lương dân

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 良民, composed of 良 (“good; virtuous”) and 民 (“people”). The second sense came into popular usage under the Nguyễn dynasty as the result of their anti-Catholics policies.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [lɨəŋ˧˧ zən˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [lɨəŋ˧˧ jəŋ˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [lɨəŋ˧˧ jəŋ˧˧]

Noun

lương dân

1. (dated) good, virtuous citizen
2. those who do not follow Christianity in general or Catholicism in particular; a pagan

   Antonyms: dửu dân, giáo dân