tam công
Definition
- Noun (Historical):
- The Three Excellencies / The Three Dukes: The collective title for the three highest-ranking ministerial positions in the imperial courts of ancient China and Vietnam. They were the pinnacle of the civil bureaucracy beneath the emperor.
- A high noble title: A term denoting a prestigious official title or rank of the highest order in the traditional feudal system.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Chức Tam công là mơ ước của nhiều quan lại. (The title of the Three Excellencies was the dream of many mandarins.)
- Trong triều đình, Tam công có quyền lực rất lớn. (In the imperial court, the Three Dukes held very great power.)
Advanced Usage
- The specific titles constituting the Tam công varied across dynasties but often included equivalents to the Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, and Grand Guardian. They were largely ceremonial but carried immense prestige.
Variants and Related Words
- Công thần (n): meritorious official.
- Ông ấy là một công thần của triều đình. (He was a meritorious official of the court.)
Synonyms
- The Three Dukes: A direct historical translation.
- Top-tier mandarins: High-ranking officials.
- Highest ministers: The most senior ministers.
Related Idioms
- Ngôi cao Tam công: A position as high as the Three Excellencies; used to describe a very high and prestigious rank.
- Dù có ngôi cao Tam công, ông ấy vẫn sống giản dị. (Even with a position as high as the Three Excellencies, he still lived simply.)