tổ ấm
Definition
- Noun:
- A warm and happy family home: The primary meaning refers to a cozy, loving, and harmonious household, typically that of a young married couple. It emphasizes emotional warmth, security, and domestic bliss.
- The benevolent influence of ancestors (archaic): An older, less common meaning referring to the protective blessing or positive legacy passed down from one's forebears.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Họ cùng nhau xây dựng một tổ ấm hạnh phúc. (They built a happy and warm family home together.)
- Căn nhà nhỏ là tổ ấm của đôi vợ chồng trẻ. (The small house is the warm nest of the young couple.)
- Nhờ phúc tổ ấm, gia đình anh ấy mọi sự đều thuận lợi. (Thanks to the benevolent influence of his ancestors, his family is prosperous in all matters.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used affectionately or humorously to refer to one's own home or a newly established household.
- It carries a strong connotation of intimacy, privacy, and mutual care within the family unit.
Variants and Related Words
- Gia đình (n): family. A more general, neutral term for a family unit.
- Hạnh phúc gia đình (n): family happiness. A phrase describing the state of joy within a family.
- Mái ấm (n): a warm roof. A very close synonym, also meaning a warm and loving home.
Synonyms
- A warm nest: A direct metaphorical translation capturing the sense of coziness and safety.
- A happy home: Emphasizes the emotional state of the household.
- A harmonious household: Focuses on the peaceful and united nature of the family.
Related Idioms
- Xây dựng tổ ấm: to build a warm nest/home. This idiom means to establish and nurture a family life.
- Họ đang lên kế hoạch xây dựng tổ ấm. (They are planning to build their happy home.)