Definition

Noun: A secondary wife or concubine in a polygamous marital structure, historically recognized in some societies. This term refers to a woman who is married to a man but holds a lower social and legal status than the primary wife (vợ cả).

Usage

The term is used to specifically denote the secondary wife in a polygamous relationship. It is a historical and cultural term, and its use in modern contexts often carries connotations of the past or refers to specific cultural practices. - Ông ấy có cả vợ cả lẫn vợ bé. (He has both a primary wife and a secondary wife.) - Trong chế độ phong kiến, vợ bé có địa vị thấp hơn vợ cả. (In the feudal system, a concubine had a lower status than the primary wife.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often found in historical narratives, literature, or discussions about traditional family structures. In contemporary legal contexts (where polygamy is not recognized), the term may be used descriptively or metaphorically, but it does not denote a legal marital status.
• It can sometimes be used pejoratively or in a gossip context to refer to a mistress, though this is not the precise traditional meaning.

Variants and Related Words

• Vợ lẽ: A direct synonym, also meaning concubine or secondary wife.
• Vợ cả: The primary, official wife, in contrast to .
• Thiếp (archaic): A term for a concubine, often used in historical contexts.

Synonyms

• Concubine: The closest direct translation in English.
• Secondary wife: A descriptive translation of the term.
• Junior wife: Another descriptive term emphasizing hierarchy.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Cả vợ cả bé: An idiom describing a man who has relationships with or is responsible for both a primary wife and a secondary wife/mistress, often implying a complicated domestic situation.
  • Cuộc sống của anh ta rối ren vì cả vợ cả bé. (His life is messy because he has both a wife and a mistress.)

noun

1. concubine