xế thân
Definition
- Noun (Literary/Archaic):
- The late afternoon; the time just after the Hour of the Monkey (Thân): A traditional timekeeping term indicating a period in the late afternoon, specifically the time following the traditional "Thân" hour (approximately 3-5 PM). It signifies the day is waning.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Trời đã xế thân, mặt trời dần khuất sau núi. (It was already late afternoon, the sun gradually hiding behind the mountains.)
- Công việc kéo dài đến tận xế thân. (The work lasted until late afternoon.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is primarily found in literary, poetic, or historical contexts to evoke a specific time of day with a classical feel. It is rarely used in modern daily conversation.
Variants and Related Words
- Giờ Thân (n): The Hour of the Monkey, the 9th earthly branch in the traditional system, corresponding to 3-5 PM.
- Xế chiều (n): A more common modern phrase for "late afternoon."
- Hoàng hôn (n): Dusk, twilight, a time period that follows "xế thân."
Synonyms
- Late afternoon
- Early evening (in context)
- Dusk (as a proximate time)
Related Idioms
- While there is no direct idiom with "xế thân," the concept of the day's end is common. A related sentiment is "ngày tàn" (the day's end), often used to imply decline or conclusion.