tiên

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Vietnamese

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Sino-Vietnamese word from .

Adverb

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tiên

  1. (only in fixed Sino-Vietnamese expressions) first; prior; before
    Tiên học lễ, hậu học văn.
    Manners come first, schoolwork later.

Etymology 2

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Sino-Vietnamese word from , also written as .

Noun

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tiên

  1. (Chinese mythology or literature) a hermit (either of human or yokai origin) who trains themselves for thousands of years to become a Immortals (Tiên), or a state of existence between a human (nhân) and a god (thần)
    thần tiên
    gods and immortals
    Hằng Nga Tiên tử
    Heng'e the Hermit
  2. (by extension, Western fantasy) a fine, beautiful creature such as a fairy, a pixie, an undine, an elf, a dryad, a mermaid, etc.
    cô tiên xanh
    the blue fairy godmother
    Nàng tiên cá
    the Little Mermaid
Derived terms
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