Thiên Chủ

Vietnamese

Alternative forms

• Thiên-chủ, Thiên chủ, thiên chủ

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 天主, composed of 天 (“heaven; a deva”) and 主 (“lord”), literally "Heavenly Lord" or "Lord of the Devas," from Literary Chinese 天主. Doublet of Thiên Chúa.

Proper noun

Thiên Chủ

1. the Lord of the Devas (the title of Sakra)

   Synonym: Đế Thích

   Thiên Chủ (Đế) Thích/Thích Đề Hoàn Nhân

   Sakra, Lord of the Devas

2. Rare form of Thiên Chúa (“Catholic God”).

Usage notes

In the context of discussing Catholicism (not used in Catholicism itself which uses Thiên Chúa), Thiên Chủ is used often as an etymological explanation of Chinese 天主 (Tiānzhǔ) rather than a legitimate term in and of itself.