Definition

1. Verb:
   • To dwell; to live; to reside: Indicates the action of inhabiting or occupying a place as one's home or abode. It often carries a formal or literary tone compared to the more common word "ở".

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Gia đình tôi đã cư tại thành phố này được ba thế hệ. (My family has dwelt/lived in this city for three generations.)
  • Ông ấy cư trong một ngôi nhà nhỏ ven sông. (He resides/lives in a small house by the river.)
  • Loài chim này thường cư ở những vùng rừng núi. (This bird species usually dwells in mountainous forest areas.)

Advanced Usage

• "An cư": To settle down peacefully; to live in stability and peace.
  • Sau nhiều năm bôn ba, họ mong muốn tìm nơi an cư. (After many years of wandering, they wish to find a place to settle down peacefully.)
• "Định cư": To settle permanently; to establish permanent residence.
  • Họ quyết định định cư ở nước ngoài. (They decided to settle permanently abroad.)
• "Cư dân": Resident; inhabitant. (Note: This is a compound noun, listed here as a related term).
  • Cư dân của khu phố này rất thân thiện. (The residents of this neighborhood are very friendly.)
• "Cư trú": To reside; to have one's domicile. (Note: This is a compound verb, listed here as a related term).
  • Mọi người đều phải đăng ký tạm trú, tạm vắng theo luật cư trú. (Everyone must register temporary stay/absence according to the residence law.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cư ngụ (verb): To dwell; to lodge. A more formal synonym.
• Cư xử (verb): To behave; to conduct oneself. (Note: This is a distinct compound verb meaning "to behave", not directly "to live").
• Di cư (verb): To migrate.
• Cư sĩ (noun): A lay Buddhist devotee; a person who practices Buddhism while living at home.

Synonyms

• Ở: To live; to be at. (More common and general).
• Sinh sống: To live; to make a living.
• Trú ngụ: To stay; to lodge (often temporarily).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Cư mang (verb): To bear; to carry (a responsibility, burden). This is an idiomatic usage meaning to shoulder a duty.
  • Anh ấy cư mang trách nhiệm của cả gia đình. (He bears the responsibility for the whole family.)

Related Idioms

• "An cư lạc nghiệp": (To have) a settled home leads to a prosperous career. This idiom emphasizes that stability in residence is the foundation for success in one's work.
  • Cổ nhân dạy "an cư lạc nghiệp" quả không sai. (The ancients taught that "a settled home leads to a prosperous career" is indeed correct.)

verb

1. to dwell; to live