tiên sư
Definition
Noun (archaic):
- Ancestor; founder: Refers to a revered forefather or the original founder of a profession, trade, or lineage.
- A term of abuse: Used vulgarly as a curse, invoking or condemning someone's ancestors.
Interjection (vulgar):
- A curse: An exclamation of anger, frustration, or insult, literally meaning "damn your ancestors."
Usage Examples
- Noun (archaic):
- Ông ta được tôn vinh là tiên sư của nghề gốm. (He is honored as the founder of the pottery craft.)
- Interjection (vulgar):
- Tiên sư cái máy tính hỏng này! (Damn this broken computer!)
Advanced Usage
- The term is considered highly offensive and vulgar when used as an interjection. Its archaic, respectful meaning is largely obsolete in modern casual speech, where the curse usage is dominant.
- It can be part of a longer, more elaborate curse, e.g., (Damn your father's ancestors!).
Variants and Related Words
- Tổ tiên (n): Ancestors. This is the standard, neutral term for ancestors without the vulgar connotations.
- Phải biết ơn tổ tiên. (One must be grateful to one's ancestors.)
- Sư tổ (n): Grandmaster, founding master (of a school, discipline, or martial art).
- Sư tổ của môn phái. (The grandmaster of the martial arts school.)
Synonyms
- Ancestor (for the archaic sense).
- Founder (for the archaic sense).
- Curse, expletive, swear word (for the interjection).
Related Idioms/Phrases
- Chửi tiên sư: To curse someone's ancestors; to use vulgar language invoking ancestors.
- Anh ta tức giận và bắt đầu chửi tiên sư. (He got angry and started cursing [my] ancestors.)