từ mẫu
Definition
- Noun:
- Exemplary mother / virtuous mother: A term of high respect used to describe a mother who embodies ideal maternal qualities such as kindness, compassion, and moral virtue. It is often used in formal, literary, or proverbial contexts.
- Motherly / maternal: Pertaining to the nurturing and caring nature associated with an ideal mother figure.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Bà ấy thực sự là một từ mẫu trong mắt con cái. (She is truly an exemplary mother in the eyes of her children.)
- Câu tục ngữ "Lương y như từ mẫu" ca ngợi các bác sĩ có tấm lòng bao dung. (The proverb "A good physician is like an exemplary mother" praises doctors with compassionate hearts.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in formal writing, classical literature, and proverbs. It is less common in everyday spoken language, where words like "người mẹ hiền" (kind mother) or "người mẹ tốt" (good mother) are more frequent.
- It often appears in fixed expressions, most notably in the classical proverb "Lương y như từ mẫu", which compares the compassion of a good doctor to that of a virtuous mother.
Variants and Related Words
- Mẫu từ (n): An alternate, less common word order with the same meaning (exemplary mother).
- Mẹ hiền (n): A more common and direct phrase meaning "kind/virtuous mother."
- Hiền mẫu (n): A literary synonym meaning "virtuous mother."
Synonyms
- Virtuous mother: A mother of high moral character.
- Exemplary mother: A mother who serves as a perfect example.
- Motherly figure: A person who provides maternal care and guidance.
Related Idioms
- Lương y như từ mẫu: A proverb meaning "A good physician is like an exemplary mother." It emphasizes that a doctor's care should be as compassionate and selfless as that of an ideal mother.
- Người bác sĩ đó được bệnh nhân quý mến vì ông ấy thực sự "lương y như từ mẫu". (That doctor is beloved by his patients because he truly embodies the saying "a good physician is like an exemplary mother.")