y quan
Definition
- Noun:
- Official attire / ceremonial robes: Refers to the formal clothing, cap, and regalia worn by mandarins or high-ranking officials in historical Vietnamese feudal courts. It symbolizes official rank and authority.
- High official position: By metonymy, it can refer to the high-ranking official position itself, implying someone who is qualified to wear such robes.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Các quan trong triều mặc y quan chỉnh tề. (The court officials wore their ceremonial robes neatly.)
- Học hành đỗ đạt để sau này có y quan. (Study and pass exams to later attain a high official position.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is classical and is primarily used in historical, literary, or formal contexts to evoke the imagery of the feudal mandarin system.
Variants and Related Words
- Áo mũ: (n) Clothing and hat; a more general term for attire, sometimes used similarly in historical contexts.
- Phẩm phục: (n) Official robes; ceremonial dress denoting rank.
Synonyms
- Ceremonial robes: Formal garments for official ceremonies.
- Mandarin's regalia: The distinctive clothing and accessories of a mandarin.
- Official garb: The clothing worn by officials.
Related Idioms
- Có y quan: To have an official position; to be a high-ranking mandarin.
- Cụ ấy ngày xưa có y quan trong triều. (He held a high official position in the court in the past.)