áo cối
Definition
- Noun:
- A traditional Vietnamese upper garment: A specific type of shirt or tunic, historically worn by common people, especially peasants and laborers in Northern Vietnam. It is characterized by its simple, loose-fitting cut, typically made from rough, plain, or homespun fabric.
- A symbol of simplicity and rural life: The term often evokes imagery of rustic, hardworking, and modest living.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông nội tôi ngày xưa thường mặc áo cối khi ra đồng. (My grandfather used to wear an áo cối when he went to the fields.)
- Trong bức tranh, người nông dân mặc áo cối vải nâu. (In the painting, the farmer is wearing a brown cloth áo cối.)
- Chiếc áo cối đã trở thành biểu tượng của đời sống bình dị. (The áo cối has become a symbol of a simple life.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "áo cối" is primarily historical and cultural. In modern Vietnamese, it is rarely used to refer to contemporary clothing but is common in literature, historical narratives, and when describing traditional attire or evoking a past era.
- It can be used metaphorically to describe something very plain, unadorned, or associated with the common people.
Variants and Related Words
- Áo nâu sồng: A brown tunic, often associated with monks or peasants, similar in connotation to .
- Áo bà ba: A traditional Southern Vietnamese tunic, different in style but similar as a marker of regional and traditional attire.
Synonyms
- Peasant shirt
- Rustic tunic
- Homespun garment
Related Idioms and Expressions
- Chân quê, áo cối: A phrase meaning "rustic feet, peasant shirt," used to describe someone with simple, rural origins or manners.
- Dù thành đạt, anh ấy vẫn giữ nét chân quê, áo cối. (Despite his success, he retains that simple, rustic character.)