cai

Definition

Noun (Historical/Archaic):
- Foreman, Overseer: A person in charge of supervising workers, especially in a prison, construction site, or similar setting in the feudal or colonial era.
- Corporal: A low-ranking non-commissioned officer in the old (feudal or colonial) army.
- Chief (of a canton): A shortened form of "cai tổng," referring to the chief administrator of a canton (a historical administrative division).
Verb:
- To give up, to quit, to wean off: To stop using a habitual and often addictive substance, such as a drug, alcohol, or tobacco. It implies a deliberate act of cessation.

Usage Examples

Noun:
- Ông cai tù rất nghiêm khắc. (The prison warder was very strict.)
- Cai lính chỉ huy một nhóm nhỏ. (The corporal commanded a small group.)
Verb:
- Anh ấy quyết tâm cai thuốc lá. (He is determined to quit smoking.)
- Bác sĩ khuyên bệnh nhân cai rượu. (The doctor advised the patient to give up alcohol.)
- Đến lúc cai sữa cho em bé. (It's time to wean the baby.)

Advanced Usage

The noun forms (foreman, corporal) are primarily historical. In modern contexts, other words like "giám thị" (supervisor/warden), "hạ sĩ" (corporal), or "quản đốc" (foreman) are more commonly used.
The verb "cai" is almost exclusively used in the context of breaking an addiction or a deep-seated habit. It is not used for quitting a regular activity like a job or a hobby.

Variants and Related Words

Cai tổng (n): Chief of a canton (historical administrative title).
Cai thầu (n): (Historical) Head contractor or foreman.
Cai trị (v): To rule, to govern (a different word, but sometimes confused due to similarity).

Synonyms

Related Idioms and Phrases

Cai nghiện: To undergo detoxification, to be rehabilitated from addiction.
- Trung tâm cai nghiện ma túy. (A drug rehabilitation center.)
Cai sữa: To wean (a baby or young animal from mother's milk).

noun

verb

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