Definition

1. Noun:
   • A unit of length: A traditional Vietnamese unit of measurement for length, historically equal to ten thước (approximately 4 meters or 4.37 yards).
   • A wooden rod or staff: A long, straight stick or cane made of wood, often used as a tool, for support, or historically as an instrument for corporal punishment.

Usage Examples

• As a unit of length:

  • Giếng này sâu đến ba trượng. (This well is up to three trượng deep.)
  • Bức tường thành cao vài trượng. (The fortress wall is several trượng high.)

• As a wooden rod:

  • Ông lão chống trượng đi bộ. (The old man walks with a staff.)
  • Theo luật cũ, kẻ phạm tội có thể bị phạt trượng. (Under old law, offenders could be punished with the rod.)

Advanced Usage

• The word trượng is now considered archaic, especially as a unit of measurement. It is primarily encountered in historical texts, classical poetry, or proverbs.
• In the context of punishment, phrases like phạt trượng (to punish by caning) or đánh trượng (to strike with a rod) describe specific historical judicial practices.

Variants and Related Words

• Trượng phu (n): An honorable or heroic man (archaic, literary). This compound uses trượng in its sense of a measuring stick, implying a man of great stature or virtue.
  • Anh ấy là một trượng phu chân chính. (He is a true and honorable man.)

Synonyms

• Unit of length: A traditional measure.
• Staff / Rod / Cane: A long stick of wood.

Related Idioms

• Cao vài trượng: Literally "several tall," used figuratively to describe something as being very imposing, grand, or formidable.
  • Anh ta làm ra vẻ quan trọng cao vài trượng. (He acts as if he's immensely important.)