cai bầu
Definition
- Noun:
- Foreman; gang boss: A person who directly hires and manages a group of laborers, typically for manual or construction work, acting as a middleman between the workers and the main contractor or company.
- Subcontractor; labor contractor: An individual or small entity that undertakes a specific part of a larger project by supplying and supervising the necessary workforce.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Công trường có ba cai bầu, mỗi người quản lý một nhóm thợ. (The construction site has three foremen, each managing a group of workers.)
- Anh ấy làm cai bầu cho một hãng xây dựng lớn. (He works as a subcontractor for a large construction firm.)
- Cai bầu đó trả lương cho công nhân vào cuối mỗi tuần. (That labor contractor pays the workers' wages at the end of each week.)
Advanced Usage
- The role of a often involves not only supervision but also the recruitment, payment, and sometimes housing of workers, carrying significant responsibility.
- In some contexts, the term can have a slightly negative connotation, implying exploitation or harsh management of laborers.
Variants and Related Words
- Đốc công (n): A synonym for foreman or overseer, often used interchangeably with but can imply a slightly more technical supervisory role.
- Nhà thầu phụ (n): A more formal term for subcontractor (sub-contractor).
Synonyms
- Foreman: A worker who supervises and directs other workers.
- Gang boss: A leader of a group of laborers.
- Subcontractor: A person or firm that undertakes work for a main contractor.
- Labor contractor: An agent who supplies workers for jobs.
Related Idioms
- Làm cai bầu: To work as or act like a foreman/subcontractor.
- Ông ấy đã làm cai bầu trong ngành xây dựng suốt hai mươi năm. (He has worked as a labor contractor in the construction industry for twenty years.)