Của ông

Definition

1. Possessive phrase:
   • His (belonging to an older or respected man): The phrase "của ông" is a possessive construction meaning "belonging to the gentleman/grandfather/sir." "Của" means "of" or "belonging to," and "ông" is a pronoun for an older man, grandfather, or a polite term for "he/him." It denotes ownership or association with a specific male person.
   • Yours (formal, to an older man): When used in direct address, it can mean "your (thing)" when speaking respectfully to an older man.

Usage Examples

• Possessive phrase:
  • Chiếc xe này là của ông. (This car is his. / This car belongs to him [the older gentleman].)
  • Tôi đã trả lại túi xách của ông. (I returned your bag, sir.)
  • Đó là ý kiến của ông chủ. (That is the opinion of the boss.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be part of a longer possessive chain to specify ownership precisely.
  • Căn nhà của ông của tôi rất cổ. (The house of my grandfather is very old.)

Variants and Related Words

• Của bà (possessive phrase): Hers / Yours (formal, to an older woman).
• Của anh (possessive phrase): His / Yours (to a male peer or younger man).
• Của tôi (possessive phrase): Mine / My.

Synonyms

• His (when referring to an older male).
• Belonging to him (with respectful connotation).

Notes on Usage

• "Của ông" is context-dependent. The meaning shifts based on whether "ông" is being used in the third person ("his") or the second person ("yours, sir").
• It is a standard and polite form of possession. The level of respect is inherent in the pronoun "ông."