thừa tướng
Definition
- Noun (Historical Title):
- Chancellor; Prime Minister: The highest-ranking official or chief minister in the imperial courts of some historical East Asian monarchies, particularly in ancient Vietnam and China. This title denotes the individual who assisted the emperor in governing the country and led the administrative apparatus.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Lý Thường Kiệt từng giữ chức thừa tướng dưới thời vua Lý Nhân Tông. (Ly Thuong Kiet once held the position of chancellor under the reign of King Ly Nhan Tong.)
- Vai trò của một vị thừa tướng trong triều đình phong kiến là cực kỳ quan trọng. (The role of a chancellor in a feudal court was extremely important.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "thừa tướng" is primarily used in historical and literary contexts to refer to pre-modern governance. It is not used for modern prime ministers or chancellors, which are typically referred to as "thủ tướng".
Variants and Related Words
- Tể tướng (n): A direct synonym for "thừa tướng," also meaning chancellor or prime minister in a historical imperial context.
Synonyms
- Chancellor: The head of the government in some historical contexts or the chief minister of a sovereign.
- Prime Minister (historical context): The chief minister of a monarch.
- Chief Councillor: A senior official advising the ruler.
Related Idioms
- Làm tể tướng, làm thừa tướng: This phrase is not a common idiom. However, in a figurative sense, referring to someone as "như một ông thừa tướng" (like a chancellor) might imply they hold a position of great administrative power or responsibility within a specific, often non-governmental, domain (e.g., within a family or company).