thiên kim
Definition
- Noun (Archaic/Literary):
- A thousand taels of gold: A historical unit of immense wealth and value, referring literally to a large quantity of gold.
- A precious person, especially a young noblewoman: Used metaphorically to describe someone of great worth, most commonly a young woman from a noble or wealthy family. This usage is often part of the fixed phrase "thiên kim tiểu thư."
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Gia tài ấy trị giá hàng thiên kim. (That fortune is worth a thousand taels of gold.)
- Nàng được ví như một thiên kim của gia tộc. (She is regarded as a precious daughter of the family.)
- Thiên kim tiểu thư ấy chưa từng biết đến sự cực nhọc. (That young noble lady has never known hardship.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in historical, literary, or poetic contexts and is considered archaic in modern Vietnamese.
- It carries connotations of high social status, purity, and being sheltered or precious.
Variants and Related Words
- Thiên kim tiểu thư (n): A set phrase meaning "young noble lady" or "precious young miss."
- Câu chuyện kể về một thiên kim tiểu thư bị lạc. (The story is about a young noble lady who gets lost.)
Synonyms
- Quý nữ: Noblewoman.
- Tiểu thư khuê các: Young lady from a wealthy, respectable family.
- Công chúa: Princess (in some metaphorical contexts).
Related Idioms/Phrases
- Thiên kim nhất tiếu: "A thousand gold for a single smile." An idiom emphasizing the immense value of a beauty's smile.
- Người ta thường nói "thiên kim nhất tiếu" để tán thưởng sắc đẹp. (People often say "a smile worth a thousand gold" to praise beauty.)