cao-bồi

Phim Mỹ thường có hình ảnh những chàng cao-bồi cưỡi ngựa.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Cowboy: A direct loanword from English, referring to the traditional cattle herder of the American West.
   • Hoodlum; Rascal; Delinquent: In Vietnamese slang, particularly in the mid-20th century, "cao-bồi" took on a negative connotation, describing a troublemaker, a petty criminal, or a mischievous young man.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Phim Mỹ thường có hình ảnh những chàng cao-bồi cưỡi ngựa. (American movies often feature images of cowboys riding horses.)
  • Khu phố này trước đây có nhiều cao-bồi hay gây rối. (This neighborhood used to have many hoodlums who caused trouble.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used historically or in a specific cultural context. When referring to the American figure, it is a neutral descriptor. When used in the slang sense, it carries a disapproving tone.

Variants and Related Words

• Cowboy: The original English term.
• Lưu manh: A more common and modern Vietnamese word for a hooligan or rogue.

Synonyms

• Cowboy: Cattle herder, rancher.
• Troublemaker: Hooligan, delinquent, rogue.

Related Idioms

• No common idioms specifically use "cao-bồi." Its usage is typically literal or as a standalone slang term.