nịnh thần

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 佞臣, composed of 佞 (“flattery”) and 臣 (“courtier”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [nïŋ˧˨ʔ tʰən˨˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [nɨn˨˩ʔ tʰəŋ˦˩]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [nɨn˨˩˨ tʰəŋ˨˩]

Noun

nịnh thần

1. (archaic, derogatory) a feudal courtier that would humor the monarch only to further his own agenda
2. (derogatory) a sycophant