Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Hospitable, welcoming to guests: Describes a person, family, or community that is friendly, generous, and warm towards guests or visitors. It implies a sincere enjoyment of hosting and a desire to make guests feel comfortable and valued.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Người dân ở đây rất hiếu khách. (The people here are very hospitable.)
  • Gia đình cô ấy nổi tiếng là hiếu khách. (Her family is famous for being hospitable.)
  • Tinh thần hiếu khách là một nét đẹp văn hóa. (The spirit of hospitality is a beautiful cultural trait.)

Advanced Usage

• "lòng hiếu khách": hospitality (as a quality or spirit).

  • Anh ấy đón tiếp chúng tôi với tất cả lòng hiếu khách. (He welcomed us with all his hospitality.)

• "truyền thống hiếu khách": tradition of hospitality.

  • Đất nước này có truyền thống hiếu khách lâu đời. (This country has a long tradition of hospitality.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hiếu khách is primarily used as an adjective. Its nominal form is expressed through phrases like "lòng hiếu khách" (hospitality) or "tính hiếu khách" (the quality of being hospitable).
• Đón tiếp nồng hậu / ân cần: to welcome warmly/attentively (verb phrases describing hospitable actions).

Synonyms

• Mến khách: fond of guests (similar in meaning, slightly less common).
• Nồng hậu: warm, cordial (often describes the manner of reception).
• Ân cần: attentive, solicitous (emphasizes careful attention to guests' needs).

Antonyms

• Xa lạnh: cold, distant.
• Không thân thiện: unfriendly.
• Hờ hững: indifferent, neglectful.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Miếng trầu là đầu câu chuyện": This traditional saying reflects Vietnamese hospitality, where betel and areca nut are offered to guests as a welcoming gesture, symbolizing the start of a friendly conversation.
• "Khách đến nhà không gà thì vịt": A humorous saying meaning "When a guest comes to the house, if it's not chicken, it's duck," emphasizing the cultural expectation to offer one's best food to guests, showcasing hiếu khách.

1. Hospitable