Definition

1. Noun:
   • A nun, a sister (religious): "bà xơ" refers to a female member of a religious order, particularly in the Catholic Church, who has taken vows and lives a life dedicated to religious service, prayer, and often charitable work. The term is commonly used in Vietnamese Catholic communities.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Các bà xơ trong tu viện rất hiền lành và tốt bụng. (The nuns in the convent are very gentle and kind.)
  • Bà xơ Maria đã dành cả đời để chăm sóc trẻ em mồ côi. (Sister Maria dedicated her whole life to caring for orphaned children.)

Advanced Usage

• "bà xơ dòng...": This phrase specifies the religious order of the nun.
  • Bà xơ dòng Mến Thánh Giá thường mặc áo dòng màu nâu. (Sisters of the Lovers of the Holy Cross often wear brown habits.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nữ tu (n): A more formal and general term for a nun or female religious sister.
  • Cô ấy muốn trở thành một nữ tu. (She wants to become a nun.)
• Soeur (n): A loanword from French ("soeur"), also used in Vietnamese Catholic contexts to mean "sister" or "nun".

Synonyms

• Nun: A woman who is a member of a religious community and lives under vows.
• Sister: A title for a nun, especially in Christian contexts.

Related Phrases

• Đi tu làm xơ: To enter religious life to become a nun.
  • Cô ấy quyết định đi tu làm xơ. (She decided to enter the convent to become a nun.)