Definition

1. Noun:

   • Maternal uncle: Refers specifically to one's mother's brother.
   • Young man / boy: A familiar or affectionate term for a boy or young man.
   • Master / Young master: A historical or respectful term for the son in a wealthy or aristocratic family.
   • Father / Dad: A colloquial term for one's father, used when speaking to one's child or about one's husband.

2. Pronoun (Second Person):

   • You: Used to address one's maternal uncle, a young man, or a male peer in a very familiar and informal way.

3. Pronoun (First Person):

   • I / Me: Used by a maternal uncle when speaking to his sister's children (his nephews/nieces).

Usage Examples

• Noun (Maternal Uncle):

  • Cậu tôi là bác sĩ. (My [maternal] uncle is a doctor.)
  • Đây là cậu ruột của tôi. (This is my [biological maternal] uncle.)

• Noun (Young Man):

  • Có một cậu thanh niên đang đợi bên ngoài. (There is a young man waiting outside.)
  • Cậu học trò đó rất chăm chỉ. (That schoolboy is very diligent.)

• Pronoun (Second Person - "You"):

  • Cậu đi đâu đấy? (Where are you going, [young man/friend]?)
  • Cậu làm giúp tớ việc này nhé. (Hey [buddy], help me with this, will you?)

• Pronoun (First Person - "I"):

  • Cậu bận lắm, không đến chơi với cháu được. (I am very busy, I can't come visit you [my nephew/niece].)

• Noun (Father):

  • Cậu nó đi làm rồi. (His/Her dad has gone to work.)

Advanced Usage

• "cậu ấm": Refers to a pampered son from a wealthy family (young master).

  • Anh ta được nuông chiều như một cậu ấm. (He was pampered like a young master.)

• Used as a familiar, often friendly pronoun among male friends, similar to "dude," "mate," or "man" in English.

  • Này cậu, lại đây một chút. (Hey man, come here for a second.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cậu ruột (n): One's biological maternal uncle.
• Cậu bé (n): A little boy.
• Cậu cả (n): The eldest son (in a family).

Synonyms

• Maternal uncle: mother's brother.
• Young man: lad, youth, boy.
• You (informal, familiar): buddy, pal, dude (context-dependent).
• Father (informal): dad, pop.

Related Terms and Notes

• Cultural Context: "Cậu" is a key term in the Vietnamese kinship system, which distinguishes between paternal and maternal relatives. Its use as a pronoun highlights the importance of relational hierarchy and familiarity in address.
• Gender Note: While primarily used for males, "cậu" can sometimes be used humorously or very familiarly to address a close female friend, but this is informal and not the standard usage.
• Formality: The pronominal use of "cậu" is highly informal and indicates a close, equal, or familiar relationship. It is not used in formal situations.

noun

1. Uncle, mother's brother
   • cậu ruột
     one's mother's brother, one's uncle
2. Young man
   • cậu học trò
     a nice little schoolboy
3. Master
   • cậu Nguyễn
     Master Nguyen
4. Old boy, old chap
   • cậu làm giúp tớ
     old boy, do this for me
5. Father, dad