tiên

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Sino-Vietnamese word from .

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 .

Noun

tiên

  1. (Chinese mythology or literature) a hermit (either of human or yokai origin) who trains themself for thousands of years to become a god, or a state of existence between a human (nhân) and a god (thần)
    thần tiên
    gods and hermits
    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
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