Definitions

1. Adjective:

   • Requiring great effort, meticulous, painstaking: Describes something that is done with extreme care, attention to detail, and a significant investment of time and effort.
   • Elaborate, intricate: Describes something that is complex and finely detailed in its construction or execution.

2. Noun:

   • Great effort, painstaking labor: Refers to the substantial time, care, and hard work invested in creating or doing something.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Bức tranh thêu này rất công phu. (This embroidered painting is very elaborate.)
  • Anh ấy đã có một sự chuẩn bị công phu cho kỳ thi. (He made meticulous preparations for the exam.)
  • Đó là một công trình nghiên cứu công phu. (That is a painstaking research project.)

• Noun (less common, often in formal/literary contexts):

  • Tác phẩm này thể hiện nhiều công phu của người nghệ nhân. (This artwork embodies the great effort of the artisan.)

Advanced Usage

• "dày công" / "tốn nhiều công phu": To put in a lot of effort, to be labor-intensive.

  • Việc phục chế bức tranh cổ tốn rất nhiều công phu. (Restoring the ancient painting required immense effort.)

• Used to describe abstract concepts like planning or strategy:

  • Kế hoạch công phu của đối thủ đã bị bại lộ. (The opponent's elaborate plan was exposed.)

Variants and Related Words

• Công (n): Work, labor. A root word in "công phu".
• Phu (n, archaic/literary): Man, laborer. Combined with "công", it emphasizes manual or strenuous effort.
• Tỉ mỉ (adj): Meticulous, careful. A close synonym, but "tỉ mỉ" focuses more on attention to detail, while "công phu" emphasizes the scale of effort.
• Kỳ công (n): Feat, remarkable effort. Often used for outstanding achievements.
  • Đó thực sự là một kỳ công. (That is truly a remarkable feat.)

Synonyms

• Tinh xảo: Exquisite, refined (emphasizes fine craftsmanship).
• Kỹ lưỡng: Thorough, careful.
• Chu đáo: Thoughtful, considerate (for preparations).

Related Phrases

• Công phu, nghệ thuật: A phrase highlighting that something is both labor-intensive and artistic.
  • Nghề làm gốm ở Bát Tràng là một nghề công phu, nghệ thuật. (Pottery making in Bat Trang is a labor-intensive and artistic craft.)

Related Idioms

• "Có công mài sắt, có ngày nên kim": Literally "With effort in grinding iron, one day it becomes a needle." Meaning: Persistence and hard work lead to success. This idiom shares the core concept of "công" (effort) found in "công phu".