Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Polite; well-mannered: Used to describe a person, especially a child, who behaves with good manners, is respectful, and follows social conventions.
   • Authorized; permitted; licensed: Used to describe an organization, activity, or entity that has official permission or a license to operate or exist.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Polite):
  • Em bé có phép. (The child is polite.)
• Adjective (Authorized):
  • Một hội có phép. (An authorized association.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is formal and somewhat old-fashioned in modern Vietnamese. In contemporary usage, more specific terms are often preferred.
• For "polite," words like lịch sự or ngoan (for children) are more common.
• For "authorized," words like được cấp phép, hợp pháp (legal), or chính thức (official) are frequently used instead.

Variants and Related Words

• Phép (n): Permission, leave, or manners. The core noun meaning "permission" or "good manners" forms the basis of the adjective có phép.
  • Xin phép. (To ask for permission.)
  • Phép lịch sự. (Politeness/courtesy.)

Synonyms

• Polite: Courteous, well-behaved, respectful.
• Authorized: Licensed, permitted, official, sanctioned.

Notes on Usage

• có phép is a compound adjective formed from có (to have) + phép (permission/manners). It literally means "to have permission" or "to have manners."
• Its use is now largely restricted to formal, legal, or literary contexts. Learners should be aware of the more modern synonyms for everyday communication.