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, 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

• nàng tiên
• tiên nữ