Definition

1. Verb:
   • To treat an illness, to cure a disease: The primary meaning is to apply medical methods to eliminate or alleviate a disease or health condition in a person or animal.
   • To provide medical care: The action of a doctor or medical professional caring for a patient.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Bác sĩ đang chữa bệnh cho bệnh nhân. (The doctor is treating the patient.)
  • Ông ấy đã đi chữa bệnh ở bệnh viện lớn. (He went to get treatment at a major hospital.)
  • Phương pháp mới này có thể chữa bệnh hiệu quả. (This new method can effectively cure the disease.)

Advanced Usage

• "chữa bệnh cứu người": A common phrase meaning "to treat illness and save people," highlighting the noble purpose of the medical profession.

  • Nghề y là nghề chữa bệnh cứu người. (The medical profession is one of treating illness and saving people.)

• "chữa bệnh bằng thuốc nam": To treat illness using traditional Vietnamese medicine.

  • Ông cụ thích chữa bệnh bằng thuốc nam. (The old man prefers treating illness with traditional medicine.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chữa trị (verb): A synonym often used interchangeably with "chữa bệnh," meaning to treat or cure.

  • Bệnh viện này chữa trị nhiều loại bệnh. (This hospital treats many types of diseases.)

• Điều trị (verb): A more formal synonym, commonly used in medical contexts, meaning to provide treatment or therapy.

  • Bệnh nhân đang được điều trị tích cực. (The patient is receiving active treatment.)

• Chữa (verb): A shorter, more general form meaning to fix, repair, or cure. It can be used for both objects and illnesses.

  • Anh thợ chữa xe đạp. (The mechanic repairs bicycles.)
  • Thuốc này chữa ho. (This medicine cures coughs.)

Synonyms

• Trị bệnh (verb): To treat/cure a disease. Slightly less common than "chữa bệnh."
• Cứu chữa (verb): To save and treat, often used in serious or critical contexts.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As Vietnamese does not have phrasal verbs in the same way English does, this section covers common verb-object combinations. - Chữa khỏi bệnh: To cure an illness completely. - Hy vọng bác sĩ sẽ chữa khỏi bệnh cho anh ấy. (Hopefully the doctor will cure his illness.)

• Chữa trị bệnh: A combination reinforcing the meaning of providing medical treatment.
  • Khoa học đã tìm ra cách chữa trị bệnh này. (Science has found a way to treat this disease.)

Related Idioms

• "Thuốc đắng dã tật": Literally "Bitter medicine cures disease." This idiom means that something unpleasant (like harsh criticism or difficult work) can lead to a good result or correction of a fault.
  • Lời phê bình của thầy giáo là thuốc đắng dã tật, giúp em tiến bộ. (The teacher's criticism is bitter medicine that cures disease, helping me improve.)