Definition

1. Noun:
   • A sword: A weapon with a long metal blade and a hilt, used for thrusting or striking.
   • A blade: The sharp-edged part of a sword or similar cutting weapon.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy rút thanh kiếm ra khỏi vỏ. (He drew the sword from its scabbard.)
  • Thanh kiếm của hiệp sĩ rất sắc bén. (The knight's sword was very sharp.)
  • Bảo tàng trưng bày một thanh kiếm cổ. (The museum displays an ancient sword.)

Advanced Usage

• "thanh kiếm ánh sáng": lightsaber (a fictional energy sword from the Star Wars universe).

  • Cậu bé rất thích đồ chơi thanh kiếm ánh sáng. (The boy really likes lightsaber toys.)

• "thanh kiếm hai lưỡi": double-edged sword (literally and figuratively).

  • Thành công đôi khi là một thanh kiếm hai lưỡi. (Success is sometimes a double-edged sword.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kiếm (noun): sword. This is the core noun. "Thanh" is a classifier for long, thin, rigid objects.
• Đao (noun): sabre, broadsword; a single-edged blade, often curved.
• Gươm (noun): (literary, formal) sword.
• Kiếm sĩ (noun): swordsman.
• Kiếm thuật (noun): swordsmanship.

Synonyms

• Binh khí (noun): weapon, arms (a more general term).
• Vũ khí lạnh (noun): cold weapon, melee weapon (contrasts with firearms).

Related Phrases

• Tuốt gươm/kiếm: to draw a sword.

  • Vị tướng tuốt kiếm ra lệnh tấn công. (The general drew his sword and ordered the attack.)

• Trao thanh kiếm: to hand over/present a sword (often ceremonial).

  • Nhà vua trao thanh kiếm cho vị tướng. (The king presented the sword to the general.)

Related Idioms

• Chưa đánh được nhau đã lo bọc nhung: Literally, "Worrying about wrapping the blade in velvet before even fighting." Means to prepare elaborately for something that hasn't even started or may not happen.

  • Dự án còn chưa phê duyệt, đừng có chưa đánh được nhau đã lo bọc nhung. (The project hasn't been approved yet, don't count your chickens before they hatch.)

• Lưỡi gươm và cây thánh giá: Literally, "The sword and the cross." Refers to the dual methods of conquest and colonization: by force and by religion/culture.

  • Lịch sử thuộc địa thường gắn liền với lưỡi gươm và cây thánh giá. (Colonial history is often tied to the sword and the cross.)

adjective

1. morally pure