CAI
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun (Historical/Archaic):
- Foreman, Overseer: A person in charge of supervising workers, especially in a prison, construction site, or similar setting in the feudal or colonial era.
- Corporal: A low-ranking non-commissioned officer in the old (feudal or colonial) army.
- Chief (of a canton): A shortened form of "cai tổng," referring to the chief administrator of a canton (a historical administrative division).
Verb:
- To give up, to quit, to wean off: To stop using a habitual and often addictive substance, such as a drug, alcohol, or tobacco. It implies a deliberate act of cessation.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông cai tù rất nghiêm khắc. (The prison warder was very strict.)
- Cai lính chỉ huy một nhóm nhỏ. (The corporal commanded a small group.)
- Verb:
- Anh ấy quyết tâm cai thuốc lá. (He is determined to quit smoking.)
- Bác sĩ khuyên bệnh nhân cai rượu. (The doctor advised the patient to give up alcohol.)
- Đến lúc cai sữa cho em bé. (It's time to wean the baby.)
Advanced Usage
- The noun forms (foreman, corporal) are primarily historical. In modern contexts, other words like "giám thị" (supervisor/warden), "hạ sĩ" (corporal), or "quản đốc" (foreman) are more commonly used.
- The verb "cai" is almost exclusively used in the context of breaking an addiction or a deep-seated habit. It is not used for quitting a regular activity like a job or a hobby.
Variants and Related Words
- Cai tổng (n): Chief of a canton (historical administrative title).
- Cai thầu (n): (Historical) Head contractor or foreman.
- Cai trị (v): To rule, to govern (a different word, but sometimes confused due to similarity).
Synonyms
- Verb: To quit, to stop, to abstain from, to break a habit, to wean off.
- Noun (Overseer): Warder, guard, supervisor.
- Noun (Corporal): Non-commissioned officer (NCO).
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Cai nghiện: To undergo detoxification, to be rehabilitated from addiction.
- Trung tâm cai nghiện ma túy. (A drug rehabilitation center.)
- Cai sữa: To wean (a baby or young animal from mother's milk).
noun
- Corporal
- Foreman
- Jailkeeper, warder
verb
- To give up
- cai thuốc phiệnto give up opium smoking
- cai rượuto give up drinking