Definition

1. Noun:
   • Reputation; good name; honor: The public esteem, respect, and overall perception of a person's or family's character, integrity, and moral standing. It implies a positive, honorable, and often hard-earned standing in society.
   • Fame; renown: A state of being widely known and acclaimed, typically for positive achievements or qualities. This meaning emphasizes widespread recognition more than moral character.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông ấy luôn giữ gìn thanh danh của dòng họ. (He always preserves the good name of his family lineage.)
  • Vị giáo sư có một thanh danh lừng lẫy trong giới học thuật. (The professor has illustrious fame in academic circles.)
  • Hành động đó làm ảnh hưởng đến thanh danh của anh ta. (That action damaged his reputation.)

Advanced Usage

• The concept of "thanh danh" is deeply tied to social and familial honor in Vietnamese culture. It is often something to be protected, maintained, and passed down, not just for the individual but for the collective family.
• It can be used in formal, literary, or serious contexts when discussing honor, legacy, or public image.

Variants and Related Words

• Danh tiếng (n): Reputation, fame. Often used more generally than "thanh danh," which carries a stronger connotation of purity and honor.

  • Công ty đó có danh tiếng rất tốt. (That company has a very good reputation.)

• Tiếng tăm (n): Repute, renown. Can be positive or negative, but often neutral regarding the quality of the fame.

  • Người nghệ sĩ ấy có tiếng tăm khắp nước. (That artist is renowned throughout the country.)

Synonyms

• Reputation: The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something.
• Honor: High respect; esteem; a clear sense of ethical conduct.
• Renown: The state of being known and talked about by many people; fame.
• Good name: A person's good reputation.

Related Idioms

• Giữ gìn thanh danh: To protect/preserve one's (good) reputation.

  • Mọi thành viên đều phải có trách nhiệm giữ gìn thanh danh gia đình. (Every member has the responsibility to preserve the family's good name.)

• Làm ô uế thanh danh: To tarnish/sully one's reputation.

  • Vụ bê bối đã làm ô uế thanh danh của chính trị gia đó. (The scandal tarnished that politician's reputation.)

noun

1. fame