vân cù
Definition
- Noun:
- The path of clouds: A classical Sino-Vietnamese literary term metaphorically referring to the official career path, the ladder of success, or the journey of fame and achievement. It symbolizes the difficult, lofty, and often elusive route to high position and scholarly honor.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Anh ấy đang bước trên con đường vân cù. (He is treading the path of clouds [pursuing a high-flying career].)
- Vân cù lắm nỗi gập ghềnh. (The path of clouds is fraught with many bumps and obstacles.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used in poetic, literary, or formal contexts to discuss one's career trajectory, especially within traditional systems of imperial examinations and bureaucracy.
Variants and Related Words
- Bước vân cù (v): to step onto the path of clouds; to embark on an official career.
- Sau khi đỗ trạng nguyên, ông bắt đầu bước vân cù. (After passing the top imperial exam, he began his official career.)
Synonyms
- Career ladder: The series of stages in one's professional life.
- Path to glory: The road leading to fame and success.
- Official career: A profession in government or public service.
Related Idioms
- Lênh đênh vân cù: Drifting on the path of clouds; describing an unstable, uncertain, or arduous official career.
- Mười năm lênh đênh vân cù nơi đất khách. (Ten years drifting on an uncertain career path in a foreign land.)