trấn
Definition
Noun (Historical):
- A province; a large administrative region: In historical contexts, "trấn" refers to a major territorial and administrative unit, larger than a modern province, used in feudal Vietnam.
- A garrison; a military stronghold: It can also denote a fortified area or military post established to control a territory.
Verb:
- To guard; to defend; to secure: To take control of and protect a strategic area, especially a border region or important location.
- To block; to barricade; to stand guard at: To physically occupy and control a passage or entrance, preventing access.
- To suppress; to ward off: To use force, authority, or ritual means to subdue, pacify, or repel something, such as evil spirits, unrest, or opposition.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Thăng Long từng là trung tâm của trấn Kinh Bắc. (Thang Long was once the center of the Kinh Bac province.)
- Verb:
- Nhà vua cử một vị tướng tài đi trấn biên giới phía Bắc. (The king sent a talented general to guard the northern border.)
- Anh bảo vệ đứng trấn ngay lối ra vào. (The security guard stood blocking the entrance/exit.)
- Người ta tin rằng bùa hộ mệnh này có thể trấn được tà ma. (People believe this amulet can ward off evil spirits.)
Advanced Usage
- "trấn an": to reassure, to pacify, to calm someone's fears.
- Chính phủ tìm cách trấn an dư luận sau sự cố. (The government sought to reassure public opinion after the incident.)
- "trấn áp": to suppress, to quell (often with force).
- Lực lượng chức năng được điều động để trấn áp bạo loạn. (The functional forces were deployed to suppress the riot.)
Variants and Related Words
- Trấn giữ (v): to hold and defend, to garrison.
- Quân đội trấn giữ những vị trí then chốt. (The army held and defended key positions.)
- Trấn tĩnh (v): to compose oneself, to calm down.
- Cô ấy hít một hơi thật sâu để trấn tĩnh lại. (She took a deep breath to compose herself.)
- Trấn thủ (v/n): (verb) to guard, to defend; (noun, historical) a military governor.
- Ông ấy từng giữ chức trấn thủ vùng này. (He once held the position of military governor of this region.)
Synonyms
- Noun (Historical): province, territory, garrison.
- Verb (Guard): defend, secure, garrison.
- Verb (Block): barricade, obstruct, guard.
- Verb (Suppress): subdue, pacify, quell.
Related Idioms
- "Trấn sơn trấn thủy": (Literally: to guard the mountains and secure the waters) To describe a position of great strategic importance or a person who firmly holds a critical position.
- "Trấn trạch an gia": (Literally: to secure the house and pacify the household) Refers to rituals or actions meant to bring peace and stability to a home, often involving spiritual practices to ward off bad luck.