thân gia
Definition
- Noun:
- In-law family; allied family: Refers to the family of one's son-in-law or daughter-in-law; the family with which one is connected through the marriage of one's child.
- In-law; relative by marriage: Can also refer to a specific member of such a family, e.g., the father or mother of one's son-in-law or daughter-in-law.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Hai bên thân gia rất hòa thuận. (The two in-law families get along very well.)
- Ông ấy là thân gia của tôi. (He is my in-law [specifically, the father of my child's spouse].)
Advanced Usage
- The term "thân gia" is formal and traditional, often used in formal contexts, literature, or when showing respect. In everyday modern conversation, terms like "bên nhà chồng" (husband's family), "bên nhà vợ" (wife's family), or "thông gia" are more common.
- It implies a formal, respectful relationship established by marriage, not by blood.
Variants and Related Words
- Thông gia (n): A direct synonym, also meaning in-law family.
- Mối quan hệ thông gia rất quan trọng. (The in-law relationship is very important.)
Synonyms
- In-laws: Relatives by marriage.
- Allied family: A family joined by alliance, specifically marriage.
Related Idioms
- While there is no common idiom with "thân gia" as the core word, the concept is central to the traditional proverb:
- "Lấy vợ xem tông, lấy chồng xem giống" (When taking a wife, look at her lineage; when taking a husband, look at his breed), highlighting the importance of evaluating a prospective "thân gia".