Definition

1. Noun:
   • Antique, antiquities: "đồ cổ" refers to objects, especially furniture, art, or decorative items, that are old and often valuable because of their age, beauty, or historical significance. It typically implies an item is at least 100 years old.
   • Curio, collectible: In a broader or less formal sense, it can sometimes refer to old, interesting, or rare objects collected for their historical interest, even if not strictly meeting the age criteria of an antique.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông ấy có sở thích sưu tầm đồ cổ. (He has a hobby of collecting antiques.)
  • Căn nhà này chứa đầy đồ cổ từ thế kỷ 19. (This house is full of antiques from the 19th century.)
  • Chợ trời đó nổi tiếng với nhiều gian hàng bán đồ cổ. (That flea market is famous for its many stalls selling antiques.)

Advanced Usage

• "đồ cổ giả": fake antique, reproduction.

  • Người mua phải cẩn thận để không mua phải đồ cổ giả. (Buyers must be careful not to buy fake antiques.)

• "buôn bán đồ cổ": to trade in antiques.

  • Gia đình họ đã buôn bán đồ cổ qua ba thế hệ. (Their family has traded in antiques for three generations.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cổ vật (n): This is a more formal or academic term, often used for artifacts or antiquities of significant historical, cultural, or archaeological value.

  • Bảo tàng trưng bày nhiều cổ vật quý giá. (The museum displays many valuable artifacts.)

• Đồ xưa (n): Literally "old things." This is a more general and colloquial term for old items, not necessarily implying high value or collectibility like "đồ cổ."

  • Trong gác mái còn nhiều đồ xưa của ông bà. (There are still many old things from our grandparents in the attic.)

Synonyms

• Antiquities: (often used in plural) ancient objects, especially those from past civilizations.
• Relic: an object surviving from an earlier time, especially one of historical or sentimental interest.
• Vintage item: An item from the past of high quality, often referring to things from the early to mid-20th century.

Related Phrases

• Sưu tầm đồ cổ (v): to collect antiques.

  • Sưu tầm đồ cổ là một thú vui tốn kém. (Collecting antiques is an expensive pastime.)

• Định giá đồ cổ (v): to appraise/value an antique.

  • Chúng tôi cần một chuyên gia để định giá món đồ cổ này. (We need an expert to appraise this antique.)

Related Idioms

• (Cũ) như đồ cổ: (as old) as an antique. Used to describe something very old-fashioned or outdated.
  • Chiếc máy tính này cũ như đồ cổ rồi. (This computer is as old as an antique.)

1. Antique, antiquities
   • Cửa hàng bán đồ cổ
     An antique shop