thê noa

Thê noa của ông ấy đang chờ ở nhà.

Definition

1. Noun (Archaic, Literary):
   • Wife and children: A classical compound term referring collectively to one's spouse and offspring, denoting the immediate family unit.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong thơ cổ, hình ảnh thê noa thường gợi lên nỗi nhớ nhà của người lính viễn xứ. (In classical poetry, the image of wife and children often evokes the homesickness of a soldier far from home.)
  • Lo cho thê noa là trách nhiệm của người trụ cột. (Providing for one's wife and children is the responsibility of the breadwinner.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "thê noa" is almost exclusively found in literary, historical, or classical contexts. It is not used in modern conversational Vietnamese.
• It carries a formal and somewhat poetic nuance, often used to emphasize familial duty and bonds in a traditional setting.

Variants and Related Words

• Gia đình (n): family. This is the modern, all-encompassing term for family.
  • Anh ấy rất yêu thương gia đình mình. (He loves his family very much.)
• Vợ con (n): wife and kids. This is the modern, colloquial equivalent of "thê noa."
  • Công việc này để nuôi vợ con. (This job is to provide for my wife and kids.)

Synonyms

• Wife and children: The direct English equivalent.
• Spouse and offspring: A more formal synonym.
• Family dependents: Emphasizes the aspect of provision and care.

Related Idioms

• "Lo cho thê noa": To provide for one's wife and children. This phrase underscores the traditional responsibility of the male head of household.
  • Người đàn ông phải lo cho thê noa. (A man must provide for his wife and children.)