Definitions

1. Noun (Historical/Military):
   • Border guard post: A military outpost or station, typically located in remote or frontier areas, where soldiers were stationed to guard the border.
   • The act of serving at such a post: The duty or service of being a soldier stationed at a remote border garrison.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Người lính già kể lại những kỷ niệm khi ông đóng quân tại một đồn thú xa xôi. (The old soldier recounted memories from when he was stationed at a remote border guard post.)
  • Công việc đồn thú vô cùng vất vả và cô độc. (The duty of serving as a border guard was extremely arduous and lonely.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is now considered archaic (từ cũ) and is primarily found in historical contexts, literature, or when discussing past military structures. The modern equivalent for a border military post would be "đồn biên phòng".

Variants and Related Words

• Đồn trú (verb): To be stationed, to garrison. (This is a more general, modern term for military stationing.)
• Đồn binh: Military post/garrison. (Another historical term for a soldier's post.)
• Biên phòng: Border guard (modern term).

Synonyms

• Đồn canh: Guard post, watch post.
• Trạm gác: Guard station, sentry post.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "đồn thú" specifically combines "đồn" (post, fort) and "thú" (to guard, to defend). It strongly implies a defensive, watchful role in an isolated location, not just any military base. The reference to "faire son service militaire dans un poste éloigné" (to do one's military service in a distant post) perfectly captures the connotation of remote, obligatory service.

1. (từ cũ) Be border guard