anh hùng

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 英雄, composed of 英 (“outstanding”) and 雄 (“male”). Doublet of yêng hùng.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ʔajŋ̟˧˧ hʊwŋ͡m˨˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʔɛɲ˧˧ hʊwŋ͡m˦˩]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʔan˧˧ hʊwŋ͡m˨˩]

Adjective

anh hùng

1. heroic

Noun

(classifier người, vị) anh hùng

1. someone who has made a significant contribution to the people and the country
2. a mythical figure with great talent and heroic spirit, achieving extraordinary feats
3. the highest honorary title awarded by the state to individuals or organizations with exceptional achievements and contributions in labor or combat

Usage notes

• A heroine can be referred to as nữ anh hùng — literally nữ (“female”) +‎ anh hùng (“hero”). However, both male and female heroes can simply be called anh hùng. The bound morpheme anh here is part of a compound and has no relation with the native morpheme anh (“elder brother”).

  Hai Bà Trưng là nữ anh hùng đầu tiên của dân tộc Việt Nam. ― The two Trưng sisters were the first heroines of the Vietnamese people.

Synonyms

• người hùng

Adjective

anh hùng

1. heroic

Further reading

• "anh hùng" in Hồ Ngọc Đức, Free Vietnamese Dictionary Project (details)