Definition

1. Noun:
   • Mustache and eyebrows; facial hair (specifically of men): "tu mi" literally refers to the hair on a man's face, particularly the mustache and eyebrows. It is an archaic, literary term.
   • A man; a male (as distinguished from women): By metonymy, "tu mi" is used to refer to men collectively, implying masculinity, dignity, and the qualities expected of a man.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy là một trang tu mi nam tử. (He is a dignified gentleman / a true man.)
  • Lòng dũng cảm ấy khiến hàng tu mi phải nể phục. (That kind of courage commands respect from all men.)
  • Câu chuyện về người tu mi ấy đã trở thành huyền thoại. (The story of that man has become a legend.)

Advanced Usage

• "tu mi nam tử": A set phrase meaning "a true man," "a gentleman," or "a man of honor." It emphasizes the virtues and dignity traditionally associated with masculinity.
  • Trong cơn nguy biến, anh ta đã chứng tỏ mình là một tu mi nam tử. (In the crisis, he proved himself to be a true man of honor.)

Variants and Related Words

• Râu mày: A more common, modern synonym with the same literal meaning (beard and eyebrows) and figurative meaning (men).
• Nam nhi: A term meaning "man," emphasizing male identity and often a sense of duty or strength. It is less archaic than "tu mi."
• Tráng sĩ: A literary term for a "warrior" or "strong man," sharing the connotation of masculine virtue.

Synonyms

• Đàn ông: Man, men (the standard, modern term).
• Nam giới: Males, the male gender (formal term).
• Phái mày râu: A figurative, slightly humorous way to say "the male sex" or "menfolk."

Related Idioms

• "Thẹn với tu mi" / "Hổ thẹn với tu mi": To be ashamed before one's fellow men; to feel a sense of shame that undermines one's masculine honor.
  • Hành động hèn nhát đó khiến hắn thẹn với tu mi. (That cowardly act made him ashamed before all men.)
• "Chí nam nhi" / "Chí tu mi": The will or aspiration of a true man.
  • Anh ta luôn nuôi chí tu mi lập nghiệp lớn. (He always nurtured the ambition of a true man to build a great career.)

noun

1. mustache and hair