cu-li
Definitions
- Noun:
- Coolie (archaic): A historical term for an unskilled laborer, typically from Asia, hired for cheap manual work.
- Loris (zoology): A small, slow-moving nocturnal primate with large eyes, native to Southeast Asia.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Coolie):
- Trong thời kỳ thuộc địa, nhiều cu-li người Việt đã bị đưa đi làm việc ở các đồn điền. (During the colonial period, many Vietnamese coolies were taken to work on plantations.)
- Noun (Loris):
- Cu-li là một loài linh trưởng nhỏ, hoạt động về đêm và di chuyển rất chậm. (The loris is a small, nocturnal primate that moves very slowly.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "cu-li" (coolie) is now considered archaic and often carries negative historical connotations of exploitation. In modern Vietnamese, "lao động phổ thông" (general laborer) or "công nhân" (worker) are more appropriate and respectful terms.
- In zoological contexts, "cu-li" is a standard term for the loris. The phrase "cu-li chậm" (slow loris) is commonly used to specify the species.
Variants and Related Words
- Phu cu-li (archaic noun): Another term for a coolie, emphasizing the laborer role.
- Cu-li chậm (noun): Slow loris ().
Synonyms
- For "coolie" (archaic): Lao công, phu.
- For "loris": Khỉ lùn (dwarf monkey - informal).
Related Phrases
- Bóc lột sức lao động của cu-li (historical phrase): To exploit the labor of coolies.
- Bảo vệ cu-li chậm (modern phrase): To protect the slow loris (referring to conservation efforts).