tiên

See also: Appendix:Variations of "tien"

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

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.
    Derived terms

    Etymology 2

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

      Noun

      tiên

      1. (Chinese mythology, Taoism) xian (an immortal; celestial being)
        thần tiên
        gods and immortals
        Bát Tiên
        Eight Immortals
        Hằng Nga Tiên tử
        Heng'e the Immortal
      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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