Definition

1. Noun:
   • Loyal minister / Faithful official: A historical term for a court official or subject who demonstrates absolute and unwavering loyalty to their monarch or ruler.
   • Paragon of loyalty: By extension, it can refer to a person who is exceptionally loyal to a leader, cause, or principle, often used in a historical or literary context.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông ấy được sử sách ghi nhận là một trung thần của triều đình. (He is recorded in history as a loyal minister of the court.)
  • Dù gặp nguy hiểm, vị trung thần ấy không bao giờ phản bội nhà vua. (Despite danger, that faithful official never betrayed the king.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "trung thần" is deeply rooted in Confucian ideology and feudal history. It implies a loyalty that is willing to endure hardship, offer honest counsel, and remain steadfast even unto death.
• It is often contrasted with "nịnh thần" (a sycophant) or "phản thần" (a traitorous official).

Variants and Related Words

• Trung (adj): Loyal, faithful. This is the root adjective.
• Bề tôi trung thành (n): A loyal subject (a more general, modern phrasing).
• Tôi trung (n): A loyal servant/official (a shorter, synonymous form).

Synonyms

• Loyalist: A supporter of a ruler or government, especially in times of revolt.
• Devotee: A person who is very loyal to a person, cause, or organization.
• Stalwart: A loyal, reliable, and hard-working supporter.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Trung thần bất sự nhị quân": A loyal minister does not serve two masters. This proverb emphasizes absolute, undivided loyalty.
  • Theo đạo lý xưa, trung thần bất sự nhị quân. (According to ancient principle, a loyal minister does not serve two masters.)
• "Làm tôi tận trung, làm con tận hiếu": To serve one's ruler with total loyalty, and one's parents with total filial piety. This pairs the concept of "trung" (loyalty to the ruler) with "hiếu" (filial piety).