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thầy
/tʰə̂j/
teacher
Thầy giáo dạy tôi toán.
My teacher teaches me math.
formal
A male teacher, especially in a traditional or formal educational setting.
Thầy của tôi rất nghiêm khắc.
My teacher is very strict.
In modern Vietnamese, 'thầy' is often used interchangeably with 'thầy giáo' (teacher) but can also refer to a male teacher in a more general sense.
formal
A respectful term for a male mentor or expert in a specific field.
Thầy của tôi trong nghề là một nghệ sĩ đàn tranh.
My mentor in the profession is a zither artist.
This usage is less common and typically reserved for highly respected figures.
Collocations
thầy giáoteacherthầy thuốcdoctor
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Gender-Specific Usage
'Thầy' is specifically for male teachers. For female teachers, use 'cô giáo' or 'thầy giáo' (gender-neutral).
Word Origin
Derived from Sino-Vietnamese '師' (thầy), meaning 'teacher' or 'master'.
Usage Notes
'Thầy' is a gendered term and is typically used to refer to male teachers or mentors. For female teachers, 'cô giáo' or 'thầy giáo' (if gender-neutral) is used.
Word Breakdown
thầy
teacher or master
rootTừ Điển Việt Anh