thanh sắc
Definition
- Noun (Archaic/Literary):
- Beautiful voice and beautiful appearance (of a woman): Refers specifically to the combination of a melodious voice and physical beauty, traditionally used to describe an idealized feminine charm.
- Feminine charms (encompassing voice and looks): Denotes the alluring qualities of a woman, often in a context that may imply a man's fondness or infatuation with such charms.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Vị vua đó bị người đời chê trách là quá ham mê thanh sắc. (That king was criticized by people for being too passionate about feminine charms.)
- Trong thơ cổ, người ta thường ca ngợi thanh sắc của những giai nhân. (In ancient poetry, people often praised the beautiful voice and appearance of beauties.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "thanh sắc" is primarily used in historical, literary, or formal contexts. In modern Vietnamese, its components are often separated into "giọng hay" (beautiful voice) and "sắc đẹp" (beauty).
- It often carries a slightly critical or cautionary connotation when used with verbs like "ham mê" (to be passionately indulgent in), implying excessive fondness that can lead to neglect of duty.
Variants and Related Words
- Sắc thanh (n): A less common variant with the same meaning, reversing the order of the components ("sắc" - appearance, "thanh" - voice/sound).
- Giai nhân (n): A beauty; an elegant woman, often the possessor of "thanh sắc".
Synonyms
- Feminine charms: Attractive qualities of a woman.
- Beauty and melody: A literal translation of the components.
- Pulchritude and voice (literary): Physical beauty and vocal quality.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Ham mê thanh sắc: To be indulgent in or obsessed with feminine charms (voice and beauty). This is a fixed, common collocation.
- Kẻ làm lãnh đạo mà ham mê thanh sắc thì khó mà lo được việc nước. (A leader who is obsessed with feminine charms will find it hard to focus on state affairs.)