Definition

1. Noun:
   • An archaic, formal, or literary term for "mother": "gia từ" is an obsolete Vietnamese word used to refer to one's own mother, conveying a sense of formality, respect, or classical literature. It is equivalent to "my mother" or "our mother."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Gia từ tôi năm nay đã già. (My mother is old this year.)
  • Trong thư, ông ấy viết: "Gia từ kính yêu..." (In the letter, he wrote: "Beloved mother...")

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Literary Context: The word "gia từ" is almost exclusively found in classical Vietnamese literature, historical documents, formal letters from the past, or poetic language. It is not used in modern, everyday conversation.
  • Tác phẩm cổ điển thường sử dụng từ "gia từ" để chỉ mẹ. (Classical works often use the word "gia từ" to refer to one's mother.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mẫu thân (n): Another formal/literary term for mother.
  • Mẫu thân tôi rất hiền. (My mother is very gentle.)
• Từ mẫu (n): A formal term meaning "mother," often used in respectful contexts.
• Mẹ (n): The standard, modern word for "mother."

Synonyms

• Mẹ: Mother (standard, modern term).
• Má: Mother (common in Southern Vietnam).
• U: Mother (common in Northern Vietnam, somewhat informal/regional).

Notes on Usage

• Obsolete Status: "Gia từ" is marked as archaic (từ cũ). Learners should understand its meaning when encountered in old texts but should use "mẹ," "má," or more formal modern terms like "mẫu thân" in active speech and writing.
• Register: It belongs to a very high, formal, and literary register. Its use today would sound excessively antiquated or deliberately poetic.

1. (từ cũ; nghĩa cũ) My mother, our mother