thân binh
Definition
- Noun:
- Personal guard / Bodyguard: A soldier or guard whose primary duty is to provide close protection to a high-ranking official, dignitary, or military commander. The term emphasizes a direct, personal protective relationship.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Vị tướng luôn có đội thân binh tinh nhuệ bảo vệ. (The general always has an elite team of personal guards protecting him.)
- Thân binh của quan lớn canh giữ nghiêm ngặt cổng thành. (The dignitary's personal guards vigilantly guarded the city gate.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is historical and formal, often found in contexts describing feudal, royal, or military hierarchies of the past. It implies a higher level of loyalty and proximity than a regular soldier.
Variants and Related Words
- Vệ sĩ (n): A modern, general term for a bodyguard or security guard, not necessarily military.
- Cận vệ (n): Guard, escort; a close protection officer, often used in both historical and modern military/police contexts.
Synonyms
- Bodyguard: A person employed to protect an individual.
- Personal guard: A guard assigned for personal protection.
- Retainer: A historical term for a servant or soldier attached to a household.
Related Idioms
- : To act as someone's personal guard or protector (can be used figuratively).
- Anh ấy trung thành như thể làm thân binh cho ông chủ. (He is as loyal as if he were the boss's personal guard.)