Definition

1. Noun:
   • Elder brother's wife; sister-in-law (specifically, the wife of one's older brother): A kinship term used to address or refer to the wife of one's elder brother. It denotes a specific family relationship and carries a respectful, familial tone.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Tẩu tẩu của tôi rất tốt bụng. (My elder brother's wife is very kind.)
  • Anh ấy giới thiệu: "Đây là tẩu tẩu của tôi." (He introduced: "This is my elder brother's wife.")

Advanced Usage

• The term "tẩu tẩu" is formal and traditional. In everyday modern speech, "chị dâu" is more commonly used with the same meaning.
  • Trong gia đình truyền thống, tôi gọi vợ của anh cả là tẩu tẩu. (In a traditional family, I call my eldest brother's wife tẩu tẩu.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chị dâu (n): sister-in-law (wife of older brother). The standard, more common modern term.
  • Chị dâu đang nấu ăn trong bếp. (My sister-in-law is cooking in the kitchen.)

Synonyms

• Sister-in-law: A general term for the wife of one's sibling. (Note: "Tẩu tẩu" is specific to the wife of an brother.)
• Elder brother's wife: A direct descriptive synonym.

Cultural Note

• "Tẩu tẩu" reflects the precise and hierarchical nature of traditional Vietnamese kinship terminology. It explicitly indicates the speaker is referring to the wife of a brother who is older than themselves. Using this term shows respect within the family structure.