vương hầu
Definition
- Noun:
- Princes and marquises; high-ranking nobles: A collective term for the highest strata of hereditary nobility in feudal societies, specifically referring to those holding the titles of prince (vương) and marquis (hầu).
- The aristocracy; the nobility: Used broadly to refer to the class of people of noble birth or high hereditary rank, often with significant land and political power.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Triều đình phong kiến tập trung quyền lực trong tay vương hầu. (The feudal court concentrated power in the hands of the princes and marquises.)
- Cuộc sống xa hoa của giới vương hầu tương phản với sự nghèo khó của dân thường. (The luxurious life of the aristocracy contrasted with the poverty of the common people.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "vương hầu" is historical and literary, primarily used in contexts discussing feudal history, classical literature, or historical dramas.
- It can imply a system of enfeoffment, where "vương hầu" were granted lands and authority by the monarch.
Variants and Related Words
- Quý tộc (n): nobility, aristocrat. A more general modern term for the noble class.
- Tầng lớp quý tộc dần mất quyền lực. (The noble class gradually lost power.)
- Công hầu khanh tướng (idiomatic phrase): Dukes, marquises, ministers, and generals; a phrase denoting the entire high-ranking official and noble elite of a feudal court.
Synonyms
- Aristocracy: The highest class in certain societies, typically comprising people of noble birth holding hereditary titles and offices.
- Nobility: The group of people belonging to the noble class in a country, especially those with hereditary or honorary titles.
- Peerage: The collective term for the nobility, especially in systems with formal ranks.
Related Idioms
- "Vương hầu bá tước": Princes, marquises, counts, and barons; an extended phrase listing various noble ranks, emphasizing the full hierarchy of feudal nobility.