Definitions

1. Noun:
   • Public building; public establishment: A building or facility owned, operated, or intended for use by the government or the public for official, administrative, or communal purposes.
   • Lobby; entrance hall (archaic/obsolete usage): A large room or hall serving as an entrance area within a public building. This meaning is now largely obsolete in modern Vietnamese.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Public building):
  • Tòa nhà này là một công sảnh của thành phố. (This building is a public establishment of the city.)
  • Các công sảnh thường được xây dựng với kiến trúc trang nghiêm. (Public buildings are often constructed with solemn architecture.)

Advanced Usage Notes

• The word 'công sảnh' is considered archaic in contemporary Vietnamese. Its primary historical meaning referred to a public building or an official establishment.
• In modern usage, it is very rarely used. For the concept of a "public building," words like 'tòa nhà công cộng', 'công trình công cộng', or 'trụ sở công' are preferred.
• The secondary meaning of "lobby" or "entrance hall" is now entirely obsolete. The modern word for a lobby is 'sảnh chờ', 'đại sảnh', or simply 'sảnh'.

Variants and Related Words

• Công cộng (adj): Public. (e.g., - public park)
• Tòa nhà công cộng (n): Public building. (Modern equivalent)
• Trụ sở (n): Headquarters, office building. (Often used for government or company offices)
• Sảnh (n): Hall, lobby. (The modern, standalone word for a hall)
• Đại sảnh (n): Grand hall, main lobby.

Synonyms

• Tòa nhà công cộng: Public building.
• Trụ sở công: Public office/headquarters.
• Dinh thự công (less common): Public mansion/official residence.

Important Note

• 'Công sảnh' is primarily encountered in historical texts or very formal, old-fashioned contexts. Learners should be aware of its meaning but are advised to use the modern equivalents listed above for active communication.