cáo tạ
Definition
- Verb Phrase:
- To take one's leave while expressing thanks; to thank and excuse oneself. This is a formal and polite expression used when departing from a gathering, a host, or a superior, combining gratitude for the hospitality or opportunity with the act of saying goodbye.
Usage Examples
- Verb Phrase:
- Sau bữa tiệc, các khách mời đứng dậy cáo tạ chủ nhà. (After the party, the guests stood up to thank the host and take their leave.)
- Ông ấy cáo tạ hội đồng quản trị trước khi rời phòng họp. (He thanked the board of directors and excused himself before leaving the meeting room.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase carries a tone of respect and formality, often used in ceremonial, official, or traditional contexts. It implies a conscious act of polite withdrawal rather than a simple departure.
Variants and Related Words
Cáo từ (v): to bid farewell, to take formal leave. This focuses more on the act of announcing departure rather than combining it with thanks.
- Nhà vua cáo từ trước khi lui về cung điện. (The king bid farewell before retiring to the palace.)
Cáo lui (v): to withdraw, to retreat (often from a position or situation).
- Vị tướng quyết định cáo lui để bảo toàn lực lượng. (The general decided to withdraw to preserve his forces.)
Synonyms
- To take one's leave: to depart formally.
- To excuse oneself with thanks: to give reasons for leaving while expressing gratitude.
- To bow out gracefully: to withdraw from a situation in a polite and tactful manner.
Related Idioms
- While "cáo tạ" itself is a set phrase, it is part of a formal register of Vietnamese that includes other "cáo-" compounds for ceremonial departures or announcements.
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Thank one's way out
