Definition

1. Verb:
   • To build a house: The primary meaning of "cất nhà" is the act of constructing a house, from the ground up. It refers to the process of erecting a new residential building.
   • To put up a house: A synonymous phrase for constructing a house, emphasizing the action of raising the structure.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Gia đình tôi đang dành dụm để cất nhà. (My family is saving up to build a house.)
  • Họ vừa cất một ngôi nhà mới ở ngoại ô. (They just put up a new house in the suburbs.)
  • Ước mơ của ông ấy là cất được một ngôi nhà trên mảnh đất của tổ tiên. (His dream is to build a house on his ancestral land.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "cất nhà" is deeply connected to the milestone of establishing a permanent home and is often used in the context of life achievements, family legacy, and financial planning.

Variants and Related Words

• Xây nhà (v): to build a house. This is a more direct synonym for "cất nhà."

  • Bố mẹ tôi định xây nhà vào năm sau. (My parents plan to build a house next year.)

• Làm nhà (v): to make/build a house. Another common synonym.

  • Anh ấy tự tay làm nhà. (He built the house with his own hands.)

Synonyms

• Construct a house: To build by putting parts together.
• Erect a house: To raise and set in an upright position.

Notes on Usage

• Important Clarification: The provided reference context ("To buy a house") is not the standard or primary meaning of "cất nhà." The correct primary meaning is "to build a house." Buying a house is typically expressed as "mua nhà."
• Cultural Context: "Cất nhà" implies a significant, often celebratory, life event. It is not used for routine construction like adding a room, which might be "xây thêm phòng."

verb

1. To buy a house