gác xép
Definition
Noun: 1. Garret, attic: A small, often cramped, upper room or space directly under the roof of a house or building, typically used for storage or as a modest living space.
Usage Examples
- (She cleaned the attic to find her old books.)
- (The small room in the garret has a window overlooking the garden.)
- (They store old belongings in the loft.)
Advanced Usage
- The term gác xép inherently suggests a space that is secondary, smaller, and less formal than the main floors of a house. It often carries connotations of being a bit dusty, forgotten, or used for storage, but it can also be romanticized as a cozy, private nook.
- It is commonly used to describe an artist's or writer's modest studio or living space.
Variants and Related Words
- Tầng áp mái: This is a more formal or architectural term for an attic or loft space, often implying it is a finished floor level under the roof.
- Gác mái: A very similar term to gác xép, also meaning attic or loft.
- Xép (as a standalone word): This is an old or dialectal term meaning "to tuck away" or "to store," which is the root idea in gác xép (a place where things are tucked away/stored).
Synonyms
- Attic: The most common general synonym, referring to the space under a roof.
- Garret: Specifically refers to a room, often a poor one, at the top of a house, typically under a sloping roof. It has a more literary or old-fashioned feel.
- Loft: A space under the roof, often open and used for storage. Can also refer to a converted open-plan living space in a former industrial building.
- Hayloft: Specifically the upper floor of a barn used for storing hay.
Related Phrases
- Phòng trên gác xép: Attic room / garret room.
- Cầu thang lên gác xép: Attic stairs / loft ladder.
noun
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garret, annic
