Definition

1. Noun:

   • Great-grandparent: A person who is the parent of one's grandparent.
   • Deceased (used as a title): A respectful title placed before the name or title of a person who has died, often someone of high status or office.
   • Elderly person (archaic/respectful): A term of respect for an old person.
   • Catholic priest (historical/regional): A term of address for a Catholic priest, especially of foreign nationality, used historically in Vietnam.

2. Verb:

   • To try; to strive; to endeavor: To make a conscious and determined effort to do something.
   • To mortgage; to pawn: To pledge property as security for a loan.

3. Adverb:

   • Intentionally; deliberately; with effort: Used to indicate that an action is done with conscious will or extra effort.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cố nội tôi là một nhà giáo. (My paternal great-grandfather was a teacher.)
  • Chúng tôi luôn nhớ ơn cố Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh. (We are always grateful to the late President Ho Chi Minh.)
• Verb:
  • Tôi sẽ cố hoàn thành bài tập trước tối nay. (I will try to finish the homework before tonight.)
  • Cố đừng quên nhé! (Try not to forget!)
  • Gia đình đã phải cố mảnh đất để có tiền chữa bệnh. (The family had to mortgage the land to get money for treatment.)
• Adverb:
  • Anh ấy cố làm ngơ trước lời trêu chọc. (He deliberately ignored the teasing.)

Advanced Usage

• "cố nhân": An old friend or acquaintance from the past.
  • Gặp lại cố nhân sau bao năm thật là cảm động. (Meeting an old friend after so many years is truly moving.)
• "cố sự": A story or tale, often with a historical or traditional context.
  • Cuốn sách ghi chép nhiều cố sự dân gian. (The book records many folk tales.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cố gắng (v/n): To try hard; effort. This is the most common and modern compound for "to try."
  • Hãy cố gắng hết sức mình! (Try your best!)
• Cố chấp (adj): Stubborn; obstinate.
  • Anh ấy quá cố chấp, không chịu nghe ý kiến của ai. (He is too stubborn to listen to anyone's opinion.)
• Cố định (v/adj): To fix; to secure; fixed.
  • Chiếc bàn được cố định vào tường. (The table is fixed to the wall.)
• Cố ý (adv): Intentionally; on purpose.
  • Có phải anh cố ý làm vậy không? (Did you do that on purpose?)

Synonyms

• Try/Strive: attempt, endeavor, make an effort.
• Mortgage: pledge, pawn.
• Great-grandparent: forebear (archaic).
• Deceased: late, departed.
• Deliberately: intentionally, purposely.

Related Idioms

• Cây có cội, nước có nguồn, con người có tổ có tông: A proverb meaning "Trees have roots, water has a source, people have ancestors." It emphasizes remembering one's origins and ancestors, where cố is implied in the lineage.
• Cố đấm ăn xôi: To strive desperately for a gain, often implying the effort is disproportionate or risky. (Literally: to try to punch [to get] sticky rice).
  • Việc đó quá mạo hiểm, đừng cố đấm ăn xôi. (That is too risky, don't push your luck for a small gain.)

noun

1. Great grandfather or mother

verb

1. To mortage; to secure by mortgage
2. To try; to endeavour
   • cố đừng quên nhé
     Try not to forget