Definition

1. Noun:

   • Uncle (father's younger brother): A term for one's father's younger brother.
   • Affectionate term for a man of one's father's generation: A respectful and affectionate form of address for a man considered to be of one's father's generation, often younger.
   • Affectionate term for a boy or young man: A friendly, sometimes endearing, term used to refer to or address a boy or a young man.
   • Personified term for animals: A humorous, personifying term used for animals in stories or casual speech.
   • Incantation, spell: A magical formula or chant (shortened form of "thần chú").

2. Verb:

   • To annotate, to note: To add explanatory notes or comments to a text.
   • To chant an incantation: To recite a magical spell (used in a limited context).
   • To fix (one's gaze): To direct and hold one's eyes on something (used in a limited, literary context).

Usage Examples

• Noun (Uncle):

  • Chú của tôi là em trai của bố tôi. (My uncle is my father's younger brother.)
  • Chú ơi, chú có khỏe không? (Uncle, how are you?) - Addressing a paternal uncle or a respected older man.

• Noun (Young man/boy):

  • Chú bé đó rất ngoan. (That little boy is very well-behaved.)
  • Hai chú công an đang giúp người dân. (The two young policemen are helping the people.)

• Noun (Personified animal):

  • Chú mèo đang ngủ trên ghế. (The kitty is sleeping on the chair.) - Using "chú" adds a touch of endearment.

• Noun (Incantation):

  • Phù thủy lẩm nhẩm đọc chú. (The sorcerer muttered an incantation.)

• Verb (To annotate):

  • Giáo viên chú thích những từ khó trong bài. (The teacher annotated the difficult words in the lesson.)
  • Anh ấy chú giải cuốn sách cổ rất cẩn thận. (He annotated the ancient book very carefully.)

• Verb (To fix gaze - limited use):

  • Cô ấy chú mắt nhìn vào bức tranh. (She fixed her eyes on the painting.)

Advanced Usage

• "Chú ý": To pay attention, to take note. This is a very common compound verb.
  • Học sinh phải chú ý nghe giảng. (Students must pay attention to the lecture.)
• "Được chú trọng": To be emphasized, to be given importance.
  • Vấn đề an toàn thực phẩm được chú trọng. (Food safety is emphasized.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chú thích (n/v): Note, annotation; to annotate.
  • Phần chú thích ở cuối trang. (The notes at the bottom of the page.)
• Chú giải (n/v): Commentary, explanation; to comment, to explain.
  • Cuốn sách có phần chú giải chi tiết. (The book has a detailed commentary section.)
• Chú tâm (v): To concentrate, to focus one's mind.
  • Anh ấy cần chú tâm vào công việc. (He needs to concentrate on his work.)
• Chú ruột (n): Biological paternal uncle (father's younger brother).
• Chú rể (n): Groom.
• Thần chú (n): Incantation, spell (full form).

Synonyms

• Cậu (n): Maternal uncle (mother's brother). Also used informally for young men.
• Bác (n): Uncle (father's older brother). A more formal/respectful term for an older man.
• Ghi chú (v): To note down, to jot down.
• Chăm chú (v/adj): To be attentive, absorbed in.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a monosyllabic word, "chú" primarily forms compound words rather than phrasal verbs in the English sense. Key compounds are listed above.

Related Idioms

• "Sẩy cha còn chú, sẩy mẹ bú dì": (Proverb) Literally "If you lose your father, you still have your uncle; if you lose your mother, you suckle your aunt." Means extended family can provide support.
• "Chú ý" (as an idiom/command): "Pay attention!" or "Heads up!"
  • Chú ý! Đường trơn. (Heads up! The road is slippery.)

noun

1. Uncle (younger brother of one's father), uncle (affectionate form of address)
   • chú ruột
     Uncle (one's father's younger brother)
2. (Affectionate appellation and address used with little boys)
3. (Form of address and appellation used with young men)
4. (Ironical form of address and appellation used with personified animals)
5. (Affectionate, considerate or familiar form of address and appellation used with men regarded as equal to one's uncle, younger brother)
   • Thần chú
     Incantation, spell
   • phù thủy đọc chú
     a sorcerer uttered his incantation