trượng
Definition
- 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.)