Definition

1. Noun:
   • Grandfather and grandmother: Refers to one's paternal grandparents (ông nội, bà nội) or maternal grandparents (ông ngoại, bà ngoại) as a pair.
   • Respectful term for an elderly couple: A polite and affectionate term used to address or refer to an older married couple, showing respect for their age and status.
   • Ancestors / Forefathers: Used in a broader, often spiritual or ritual context to refer to deceased predecessors of a family or lineage.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cuối tuần này, chúng tôi sẽ về quê thăm ông bà. (This weekend, we will return to our hometown to visit our grandparents.)
  • Ông bà chủ nhà rất tử tế. (The elderly couple who own the house are very kind.)
  • Gia đình tôi luôn thờ cúng ông bà. (My family always worships our ancestors.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ông bà ông vải": A term emphasizing distant ancestors or forefathers.

  • Truyền thống này có từ thời ông bà ông vải. (This tradition dates back to the time of our distant ancestors.)

• Used in formal or ceremonial address:

  • Kính thưa ông bà và các vị khách quý. (Honored elders and distinguished guests.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ông bà nội (n): Paternal grandparents.

  • Ông bà nội tôi sống ở Hà Nội. (My paternal grandparents live in Hanoi.)

• Ông bà ngoại (n): Maternal grandparents.

  • Tôi thường nghỉ hè ở nhà ông bà ngoại. (I often spend summer vacations at my maternal grandparents' house.)

• Tổ tiên (n): Ancestors, forebears (a more formal synonym for the ancestral meaning).

  • Nhớ ơn tổ tiên là một nét đẹp văn hóa. (Being grateful to one's ancestors is a beautiful cultural trait.)

Synonyms

• Grandparents: The parents of one's father or mother.
• Elderly couple: An older husband and wife.
• Ancestors: Those from whom one is descended.

Related Idioms and Expressions

• Ông bà ta có câu: A phrase used to introduce a traditional proverb or saying, meaning "Our ancestors had a saying..."

  • Ông bà ta có câu: "Ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây". (Our ancestors had a saying: "When eating fruit, remember the planter.")

• Phúc đức ông bà: Refers to the blessings or virtue inherited from one's ancestors.

  • Anh ấy thành công cũng nhờ phúc đức ông bà. (His success is also thanks to the blessings of his ancestors.)

1. grandfather and grandmother