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Vietnamese

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Sino-Vietnamese word from . One of the 四民 (four peoples), classes of civilians in feudal East Asia. In Japan, the term may be specifically used of samurai.

Noun

(, )

  1. (archaic) a learned person, especially someone from the respected intelligentsia
    Holonym: tứ dân
    Coordinate terms: công (artisans/craftsmen), nông (peasants/farmers), thương (merchants)
    sĩ nông công thương
    the intelligentsia, the peasants, the craftsmen and the merchants
    tướng sĩ
    military and administrative officials
    • 15th century, Nguyễn Trãi, “言志 Ngôn chí 14”, in Quốc âm thi tập (國音詩集):
      絲毫庄固填恩主
      𠰺廊溋𠇍
      Tơ hào chẳng có đền ơn chúa.
      Dạy láng giềng mấy nho.
      I have not the slightest of things to repay my lord's graces;
      I'm teaching my neighbors, a few intellectuals and scholars.
    • 1759, Lê Quý Đôn, Đại Việt thông sử (Thorough Historical Records of Great Việt); 1973, Vietnamese translation by Lê Mạnh Liêu
      Bởi vậy ngài bèn đại hội tướng sĩ, bàn tính việc khởi binh.
      Therefore, he held a great meeting with the generals and officers, to discuss raising armies.
    • Chỉ nam ngọc âm giải nghĩa (Precious manual explicating [important terms]) 28b
      ()()(tài)(hiền)(ai)(chẳng)(biết)(danh).
      The literati possess worthy talents; who is not aware of their reputations?
    • 14th century, Luo Guanzhong, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Ch. 57; 1909 Vietnamese translation by Phan Kế Bính
      Nghe tiếng ngài yêu người hiền, trọng kẻ , nên tôi cũng đến yết kiến.
      I've heard that ye reputedly cherish virtuosi and respect literati, so I'm also come for an audience.
  2. (xiangqi) an advisor, a piece labeled with the characters (shì, black) and (, red)
Derived terms
Derived terms

Adjective

  1. (archaic) intelligent; wise; well educated

Verb

  1. (colloquial) Short for sĩ diện (to be egoistic, to be snobbish).