tiên

See also: Appendix:Variations of "tien"

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [tiən˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [tiəŋ˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [tiəŋ˧˧]
• Homophone: Tiên

Etymology 1

Sino-Vietnamese word from 先.

Adverb

tiên

1. (only in fixed Sino-Vietnamese expressions) first; prior; before

   Tiên học lễ, hậu học văn.

   Manners come first, schoolwork later.

Etymology 2

Sino-Vietnamese word from 仙, also written as 僊.

Noun

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

   bát tiên

   Eight 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

• nàng tiên
• tiên nữ