thị nữ
Definition
- Noun:
- Lady-in-waiting; Maidservant: A female attendant or servant, specifically one who serves a lady of high rank, such as a queen, princess, or noblewoman, in a feudal or royal court. The term is historical and evokes the context of pre-modern, feudal societies.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Công chúa đi kèm với bốn thị nữ. (The princess was accompanied by four ladies-in-waiting.)
- Thị nữ phụ trách việc trang điểm và quần áo cho hoàng hậu. (The maidservant was responsible for the queen's makeup and clothing.)
- Vai trò của thị nữ trong cung đình xưa rất quan trọng. (The role of a lady-in-waiting in the ancient court was very important.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used in historical, literary, or formal contexts to describe the social structures of the past. It is not used for modern domestic helpers or assistants.
Variants and Related Words
- Cung nữ (n): A palace maid; a woman serving in the royal palace, often with a broader range of duties than a , who typically serves a specific person.
- Hầu gái (n): A (female) servant; a more general and modern term for a maid or housemaid, without the specific aristocratic connotation.
Synonyms
- Lady-in-waiting: A woman attending a queen or princess.
- Handmaiden: A female servant or attendant.
- Maidservant: A female domestic servant.
Related Concepts
- Cung đình (royal court): The setting where a would typically serve.
- Phong kiến (feudalism): The historical social system in which this role was prevalent.