tào khương
Definition
- Noun:
- Dregs and husks: The literal meaning refers to the poor, coarse food of wine dregs and rice bran, representing the most basic and meager sustenance.
- A wife from hard times: A figurative and classical term for a wife who shared a life of poverty and hardship with her husband before he achieved success or wealth. It signifies a spouse who endured difficult times together.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông ấy luôn nhớ ơn người vợ tào khương đã cùng ông trải qua những ngày tháng khó khăn. (He is always grateful to the wife from hard times who went through difficult days with him.)
- Tình nghĩa tào khương là thứ tình cảm quý giá trong hôn nhân. (The bond forged through shared hardship is a precious sentiment in marriage.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used in a classical, literary, or proverbial context to evoke loyalty, shared history, and gratitude within a marriage. It is rarely used in modern everyday conversation.
Variants and Related Words
- Vợ cả tào khương (n): This full phrase explicitly means "the first/principal wife from the time of poverty," emphasizing her status and shared history.
Synonyms
- Helpmate: A helpful partner, especially a wife.
- Partner in adversity: A companion during difficult times.
Related Idioms
- Chia ngọt sẻ bùi: To share sweetness and bitterness; to share life's joys and hardships together.
- Họ là đôi vợ chồng đã chia ngọt sẻ bùi suốt mấy chục năm. (They are a couple who have shared life's joys and hardships for decades.)
- Đồng cam cộng khổ: To share bitterness and hardship; to go through thick and thin together.
- Tình yêu của họ được xây dựng từ những năm tháng đồng cam cộng khổ. (Their love was built from years of sharing hardships.)