Definition

1. Noun:

   • Fox: A carnivorous mammal, similar to a dog but with shorter legs, large ears, and a pointed snout, known for its cunning nature.
   • Proclamation; Edict: (Archaic) A formal public announcement, often issued in the name of a monarch or ruler.

2. Verb (Archaic/Colloquial):

   • To plead; To petition: To formally submit or present a matter to an authority.
   • To pretext; To excuse oneself: To give a false or stated reason to avoid something.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Animal):
  • Cáo thường bắt gà. (Foxes often catch chickens.)
  • Nó tinh ranh như một con cáo. (He is as cunning as a fox.)
• Noun (Document):
  • Nguyễn Trãi viết bài "Bình Ngô đại cáo". (Nguyen Trai wrote the "Great Proclamation on the Pacification of the Wu".)
• Verb:
  • Anh ta cáo ốm để nghỉ làm. (He pretended to be sick to take a day off work.)
  • (Archaic) Thần dân cáo quan. (The subjects petitioned the mandarin.)

Advanced Usage

• "cáo già": A sly old fox; a very cunning and experienced person.
  • Tên tội phạm đó là một cáo già. (That criminal is a sly old fox.)
• "cáo bệnh": To plead illness (as an excuse).
  • Hắn thường xuyên cáo bệnh. (He frequently pleads illness.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cáo cái (n): Vixen; a female fox.
• Cáo con (n): Fox cub; kit.
• Hang cáo (n): Foxhole; fox's den.
• Bị cáo (n): The accused; defendant (in a legal context).
• Tố cáo (v): To denounce; to accuse.

Synonyms

• Fox: Reynard, tod (archaic/poetic).
• Proclamation: Declaration, manifesto, edict.
• To pretext: To feign, to pretend, to claim falsely.
• Cunning: Sly, crafty, wily.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Mèo già hóa cáo": Literally, "An old cat turns into a fox." It means practice makes perfect; with age and experience comes great cunning or skill.
  • Đừng coi thường hắn, mèo già hóa cáo đấy. (Don't underestimate him; practice makes a master.)
• "Cáo mượn oai hùm": Literally, "A fox borrowing the tiger's fierceness." It means to bully people by borrowing someone else's power or influence.

noun

1. Royal edict-like announcement
   • Nguyễn Trãi viết bài cáo bình Ngô
     Nguyen Trai wrote the edict-like announcement about the defeat of the feudal Chinese invaders
2. Fox
   • cáo bắt gà
     foxes catch fowls
   • bọn thựcdân cáo già
     the foxy colonialists
   • mèo già hoá cáo
     at length the cat turns fox; no man is his craft's master first day; use makes mastery; practice makes perfect

verb

1. To submit (to mandarin)
2. To pretext, to invoke as excuse
   • cáo ốm không dự hội nghị