vợ mọn
Definition
- Noun:
- A minor wife; a concubine of lower status: In historical and some traditional contexts, this term refers to a secondary wife or a concubine, specifically one who holds a subordinate or less formal position compared to the primary wife. The term carries connotations of being taken in a less official or ceremonial manner.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông ấy có cả vợ cả và vợ mọn. (He had both a primary wife and a minor wife.)
- Chế độ đa thê xưa thường phân biệt rõ giữa vợ cả và vợ mọn. (The old polygamous system often clearly distinguished between the primary wife and the minor wives.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is largely historical and dialectal. Its use in modern contexts is rare and typically refers to past social structures or in literary works describing the past. It can carry a pejorative sense, implying a lack of formal status or rights.
Variants and Related Words
- Vợ lẽ (n): a more common and general term for a concubine or secondary wife.
- Vợ hai (n): a colloquial term for a second wife.
- Vợ bé (n): a colloquial term for a minor or younger wife, often used similarly.
Synonyms
- Concubine: a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than a wife.
- Secondary wife: a wife of subordinate rank in a polygamous marriage.
- Minor wife: a direct translation conveying the subordinate status.
Cultural Note
- The concept of "vợ mọn" reflects historical Vietnamese family structures where polygamy was practiced. The primary wife ("vợ cả") held the highest status and managed the household, while "vợ mọn" had fewer rights and social standing. This term is a specific cultural artifact of that social system.