Definition

1. Noun (Historical):
   • A scholar's family / a literati lineage: Refers to a family with a tradition of Confucian scholarship and civil service, emphasizing education and classical learning.
   • The act of formal courtesy: Denotes the exchange of very formal, ceremonious, and respectful greetings or polite gestures.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ta là con nhà thi lễ. (He comes from a family of scholars / a literati lineage.)
  • Hai vị quan thi lễ với nhau rất trịnh trọng. (The two officials exchanged very formal and ceremonious courtesies.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "thi lễ" is archaic and is primarily encountered in historical or literary contexts describing pre-modern Vietnamese society, which was heavily influenced by Confucian culture and the imperial examination system.

Variants and Related Words

• Nhà nho (n): A Confucian scholar; a literatus. This is a more common synonym for a scholar from the historical context.
  • Ông ấy là một nhà nho chân chính. (He is a true Confucian scholar.)

Synonyms

• Literati family: A family of educated scholars.
• Formal salutations: Very polite and ceremonious greetings.

Related Concepts

• Lễ giáo: Rituals and moral teachings; the code of rites and propriety in Confucian philosophy, which governed formal behavior.
• Khoa cử: The imperial examination system, which scholars ("nhà nho" or from "nhà thi lễ") would take to enter government service.