chánh

See also: chanh

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕajŋ̟˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕɛɲ˦˧˥]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [can˦˥]

Etymology 1

Sino-Vietnamese word from 正. Doublet of chính. Compare Japanese 正 (shō-, “senior ranking for 位”).

Prefix

chánh

1. chief; head

   chánh văn phòng ― head of a department

2. (history) "senior" ranking for phẩm (“courtier rank”), e.g. chánh nhất phẩm (“senior rank 1”), tòng nhất phẩm (“junior rank 1”), chánh nhị phẩm (“senior rank 2”), tòng nhị phẩm (“junior rank 2”), etc.

   Antonym: tòng

Noun

chánh

1. (colloquial) head; chief

Etymology 2

Sino-Vietnamese word from 正 or 政.

Adjective

chánh

1. (South Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) Alternative form of chính (“legitimate; just”)

   chánh nghĩa ― justice