Definition

1. Noun:
   • Coolie: A historical term for an unskilled laborer, especially one from Asia, hired for cheap manual work. This term is now considered archaic and often derogatory.
   • Slow loris: A small, nocturnal primate with large eyes, no tail, and short ears, known for its slow movements.
   • A type of fern: A large fern with very big leaves, a highly branched structure, and a rhizome covered in reddish-brown hairs, used in traditional medicine.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Coolie):
  • Những người cu li làm việc vất vả trên các cánh đồng. (The coolies worked hard in the fields.)
• Noun (Slow loris):
  • Cu li là một loài động vật đang có nguy cơ tuyệt chủng. (The slow loris is an endangered species.)
• Noun (Fern):
  • Rễ cây cu li thường được dùng trong các bài thuốc nam. (The roots of the cu li fern are often used in traditional remedies.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "cu li" as "coolie" is primarily found in historical or literary contexts. Its modern use can be offensive, as it references a system of exploitative labor.

Variants and Related Words

• Culi: An alternative spelling for "cu li" when referring to a laborer (coolie).

Synonyms

• Coolie: Laborer, porter, worker.
• Slow loris: Primate, nocturnal mammal.
• Fern: Plant, medicinal herb.

Notes on Usage

• When referring to the primate, the term "cu li" is standard and neutral in Vietnamese.
• When referring to the historical laborer, the term is outdated. It is crucial to understand its derogatory connotations in modern English; using "laborer" or "worker" is preferred.
• The botanical meaning is specific to traditional medicine and plant classification.

noun

1. (cũ) coolie; cooly