cao lâu
Definition
- Noun:
- A Chinese restaurant: A type of large, often multi-story, restaurant specializing in serving Chinese cuisine. The term is somewhat archaic and evokes a traditional style of dining establishment.
- A large, upscale restaurant: Historically, it can refer to a sizable and relatively high-class eatery.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Gia đình tôi thường ăn tối ở một cao lâu trên phố. (My family often dines at a Chinese restaurant on the street.)
- Cao lâu này nổi tiếng với các món dim sum. (This Chinese restaurant is famous for its dim sum dishes.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "cao lâu" is considered old-fashioned in modern Vietnamese. Contemporary speakers more commonly use "nhà hàng Trung Quốc" (Chinese restaurant) or simply "nhà hàng" (restaurant).
- It can sometimes be used in literary or historical contexts to evoke a specific atmosphere of old urban life.
Variants and Related Words
- Nhà hàng (n): restaurant (general term).
- Quán ăn (n): eatery, a smaller or more casual dining place.
- Tiệm ăn (n): a shop or small restaurant.
Synonyms
- Chinese restaurant: A restaurant serving Chinese food.
- Eatery: A place to eat (more general).
- Dining establishment: A formal term for a restaurant.
Related Idioms
- There are no common idioms directly featuring "cao lâu". Its usage is primarily literal.
noun
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Restaurant
