cô ta
Definition
- Pronoun:
- She, her: A third-person singular pronoun used to refer to a specific female person who is not the speaker or the listener. It often carries a neutral or slightly distant tone.
- That woman/girl: Used to indicate a particular female individual, sometimes with a nuance of pointing her out.
Usage Instructions
- "Cô ta" is used as a subject or object in a sentence to refer to a female person previously mentioned or understood from context.
- It is more formal or literary than the common pronoun "cô ấy". In everyday spoken Vietnamese, "cô ấy" is preferred. "Cô ta" can sometimes sound impersonal or carry a slight negative connotation (e.g., distance, disapproval, or formality), depending on context.
- It is typically used in writing, narratives, or formal speech.
Usage Examples
As Subject: Cô ta đang đứng đợi ở cổng. (She is standing waiting at the gate.)
As Object: Tôi đã gặp cô ta hôm qua. (I met her yesterday.)
Advanced Usage
To create distance or formality: Using "cô ta" instead of "cô ấy" can create a sense of narrative distance or formal observation. Cô ta bước vào phòng, tất cả mọi người đều im lặng. (She entered the room, and everyone fell silent.)
With a nuanced tone: In some contexts, it can imply the speaker's neutral or detached observation, or even mild criticism, without using explicitly negative words. Cô ta luôn làm mọi việc theo cách của mình. (She always does things her own way.)
Variants and Related Words
- Cô ấy: The more common and neutral third-person singular feminine pronoun. (She/her)
- Chị ta: Third-person singular pronoun for an older female or a female addressed as "chị". (She/her)
- Bà ta: Third-person singular pronoun for an elderly female or a female addressed as "bà". (She/her)
- Cô: Can be a pronoun (you - to a young woman), a noun (aunt, Miss), or a title (teacher).
Synonyms
- Nàng: A literary, poetic, or old-fashioned pronoun for "she", often used in stories or songs. (She)
- Ả: A colloquial, sometimes slightly derogatory or familiar pronoun for "she". (She/her)
Important Note
- "Cô ta" as explained above is a pronoun.
- The reference definition provided (quota) is for the homonym "côta" (a loanword from English/French), which is a completely different word (a noun meaning a limited quantity). They are distinct in meaning and usage. This entry focuses solely on the pronoun "cô ta".