Definition

1. Verb:
   • To show special consideration or make allowances for: To give particular attention or grant leniency, often due to someone's specific circumstances, situation, or status.
   • To condescend, to deign: To do something for someone of a lower status, out of kindness, affection, or esteem, implying a gracious lowering of oneself.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Xin hãy chiếu cố đến hoàn cảnh khó khăn của gia đình anh ấy. (Please make allowances for his family's difficult circumstances.)
  • Cảm ơn ông chủ đã chiếu cố cho tôi cơ hội này. (Thank you, sir, for condescending to grant me this opportunity.)
  • Ban giám khảo nên chiếu cố đến sự nỗ lực của thí sinh nhỏ tuổi. (The judges should show consideration for the young contestant's effort.)

Advanced Usage

• "chiếu cố đến" / "chiếu cố tới": To show consideration for (something/someone), to take (something) into account.

  • Chính sách mới cần chiếu cố đến quyền lợi của người lao động. (The new policy needs to take the workers' rights into account.)

• "được chiếu cố": To be shown consideration, to be granted a favor (often used humbly or gratefully).

  • Tôi rất biết ơn vì đã được chiếu cố trong dịp này. (I am very grateful to have been shown such consideration on this occasion.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chiếu tướng (verb): In chess, to checkmate. (Note: This is a compound word; the core meaning of "chiếu" here is different, relating to "check" in chess.)
• Chiếu theo (phrasal verb): According to, based on (a rule, precedent, etc.). (Note: This is a phrasal verb where "chiếu" means "to consult" or "to refer to".)
• Cố (verb, in other contexts): To try hard, to make an effort. (Note: This is the standalone meaning of "cố", which is different from its meaning in the compound "chiếu cố".)

Synonyms

• Quan tâm: To care for, to be concerned about.
• Châm chước: To make allowances for, to be lenient.
• Ưu ái: To favor, to show preferential treatment.
• Hạ cố: To condescend, to lower oneself (similar in meaning but can sound even more formal or humble).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Chiếu cố quá bộ: A formal, idiomatic phrase meaning "to condescend to visit" or "to honor with a visit".
  • Cảm ơn ngài đã chiếu cố quá bộ đến nhà chúng tôi. (Thank you for honoring us with a visit to our home.)

Related Idioms

• "Chiếu cố nể nang": To show consideration and respect (often used together for emphasis).
  • Vì tình bạn lâu năm, anh ấy đã chiếu cố nể nang mà giúp đỡ tôi. (Because of our long friendship, he showed consideration and respect by helping me.)
• "Trên chiếu cố, dưới kính nhường": An idiom describing an ideal, harmonious relationship where superiors show consideration and subordinates show respect.
  • Một tập thể đoàn kết là nơi "trên chiếu cố, dưới kính nhường". (A united collective is where "superiors show consideration and subordinates show respect".)

verb

1. To make allowance for, to consider, to grant privileges to
2. To condescend, to deign
   • cám ơn ngài đã chiếu cố quá bộ đến nhà
     thank you for having deigned to come (for the great honour you did me by coming)