bên ngoại

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The Vietnamese word "bên ngoại" refers to the maternal side of the family, specifically the relatives that come from your mother’s side. This can include your mother, maternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. The term is often used when distinguishing between relatives from your mother's side and those from your father's side, which are referred to as "bên nội."

Usage Instructions:

• Use "bên ngoại" when talking about family gatherings, relationships, or heritage related to your mother’s side.
• It is commonly used in conversations about family trees, genealogy, or when discussing family support.

Example:

• "Mẹ tôi có ba chị em gái ở bên ngoại." (My mother has three sisters on her maternal side.)

Advanced Usage:

• When discussing family lineage or heritage, you might say: "Tôi rất tự hào về di sản văn hóa từ bên ngoại của mình." (I am very proud of the cultural heritage from my maternal side.)

Word Variants:

• "Người họ bên ngoại": This phrase refers to a relative on the maternal side. For example: "Cô ấy là người họ bên ngoại của tôi." (She is my relative from my maternal side.)

Different Meanings:

• "Bên ngoại" specifically refers to the maternal lineage; it doesn’t have other meanings outside of family context in Vietnamese.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "bên ngoại," but you might encounter related terms like:
  • "bên nội" (paternal side) - referring to the father's side of the family.
  • "họ hàng" - a general term for relatives, which includes both maternal and paternal sides.

Academic

1. Maternel, on the distaff side
   • Người họ bên ngoại
     A relative on the distaff side