trường thiên
Definition
Noun:
- A long poem or epic poem: A lengthy, narrative poem, often detailing heroic deeds or significant events.
- A long novel or saga: A substantial prose work, particularly one that is expansive in scope and length, sometimes serialized.
Adjective (attributive):
- Long-form; lengthy: Used to describe a literary or artistic work that is of considerable length, such as a novel, poem, or story.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- Nhà văn đang viết một cuốn tiểu thuyết trường thiên về lịch sử Việt Nam. (The author is writing a long novel about Vietnamese history.)
- Tác phẩm đó là một trường thiên nổi tiếng của văn học thế giới. (That work is a famous epic poem in world literature.)
Adjective:
- Đây là một tiểu thuyết trường thiên với nhiều tập. (This is a long-form novel with many volumes.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in literary criticism to categorize works based on their length and narrative scope, contrasting with shorter forms like novellas or short stories.
- In modern usage, it can metaphorically describe any very long, drawn-out account or process, though this is less common.
Variants and Related Words
- Tràng thiên: An older or variant form with the same meaning.
- Truyện Kiều được xem là một kiệt tác tràng thiên. (The Tale of Kieu is considered a masterpiece epic.)
Synonyms
- Epic: A long narrative poem.
- Saga: A long story of heroic achievement or a series of connected books.
- Roman-fleuve: (French) A sequence of novels, each featuring the same characters or setting across a long period.
Related Idioms
- While "trường thiên" itself is not typically part of idioms, it is conceptually related to the idea of a grand, sweeping narrative.