Definition

Noun: - A eunuch: A man who has been castrated, historically employed to serve in the imperial palace, particularly in the harems of East Asian monarchies like those in China and Vietnam.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong các triều đại phong kiến, thái giám thường phục vụ trong hậu cung. (In feudal dynasties, eunuchs typically served in the imperial harem.)
  • Vai trò của một vị thái giám đôi khi rất quan trọng trong triều chính. (The role of a eunuch was sometimes very important in court politics.)

Advanced Usage

• Historical and Cultural Context: The term "thái giám" is specific to the historical context of imperial courts in Sinospheric cultures (e.g., Vietnam, China, Korea). It refers not just to any eunuch, but specifically to one who held an official position within the palace bureaucracy.
  • Nghiên cứu về hệ thống thái giám giúp hiểu rõ hơn về cơ cấu quyền lực trong cung đình xưa. (Studying the eunuch system helps us better understand the power structure in ancient palaces.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hoạn quan (n): A synonym for "thái giám," also meaning eunuch. It is a more general term.
  • "Hoạn quan" và "thái giám" thường được dùng thay thế cho nhau. ("Hoạn quan" and "thái giám" are often used interchangeably.)
• Nội thị (n): A term for palace attendants, which could include eunuchs.

Synonyms

• Hoạn quan: Eunuch.
• Nội giám: Palace eunuch (a less common variant).

Notes on Meaning

• The word "thái giám" carries strong historical and cultural connotations. In modern usage, it is almost exclusively found in historical texts, novels, films, and discussions about history. It is not used in contemporary contexts to refer to individuals.

noun

1. eunuch