Definition

1. Verb:

   • To serve, to attend to: To perform duties for a superior, master, or guest.
   • To appear before (an authority): To present oneself before a superior, official, or court.
   • To hope/strive to (achieve something): To act with the aim or hope of accomplishing a difficult goal.

2. Noun:

   • Marquis: The second-highest noble rank in the traditional feudal system, below "công" (duke).
   • Monkey: A primate animal.
   • (Archaic) Maidservant: A female servant in aristocratic households during feudal times.
   • Pharynx (Anatomy): The part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity.

3. Adverb:

   • Almost, nearly: Indicates that something is close to happening or being in a certain state.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to serve):

  • Người lính trung thành hầu hạ nhà vua. (The loyal soldier served the king.)
  • Cô ấy hầu trà cho khách. (She served tea to the guests.)

• Verb (to appear before):

  • Bị cáo được gọi ra hầu tòa. (The defendant was summoned to appear in court.)

• Verb (to hope/strive to):

  • Anh ấy làm việc chăm chỉ hầu đạt được thành công. (He works hard hoping to achieve success.)

• Noun (Marquis):

  • Ông ta được vua phong tước hầu. (He was granted the title of marquis by the king.)

• Noun (Monkey):

  • Đàn hầu đang chuyền cành trong rừng. (A troop of monkeys is swinging from branches in the forest.)

• Noun (Pharynx):

  • Viêm hầu là một bệnh phổ biến. (Pharyngitis is a common illness.)

• Adverb (Almost):

  • Công việc hầu như đã hoàn thành. (The work is almost finished.)
  • Trời hầu tối. (It's almost dark.)

Advanced Usage

• "hầu hạ": To serve attentively (often used for serving superiors).

  • Kẻ hầu hạ người sai khiến. (Some serve, others command.)

• "hầu chuyện": To attend to someone in conversation (a polite or humble expression).

  • Xin phép được hầu chuyện cụ một lúc. (May I have the honor of conversing with you for a moment, sir?)

• "hầu như": An adverb meaning "almost", "nearly", or "virtually". This is a very common compound.

  • Cô ấy hầu như không bao giờ đi muộn. (She is almost never late.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hầu tước (n): The title or rank of a marquis.
• Hầu bao (n): Purse, money bag (historically carried by servants).
• Hầu cận (n): Attendant, aide-de-camp.
• Hầu gái (n): (Archaic) Maidservant.
• Hầu hết (adv): Most, the majority of. (A very common compound meaning "most").
  • Hầu hết mọi người đều đồng ý. (Most people agree.)

Synonyms

• Phục vụ (v): To serve.
• Gần như (adv): Almost, nearly.
• Khỉ (n): Monkey.
• Họng (n): Throat (a more common, general term compared to the anatomical "hầu").

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Hầu bàn: To wait tables.
• Hầu rượu: To serve wine/drinks.
• Hầu giáo: (Historical) To attend a teacher/scholar.
• Ra hầu tòa: To appear in court.
• Bệnh hầu: Pharyngeal disease.

Related Idioms

• "Kẻ hầu người hạ": A phrase describing a scene with many servants, implying a large, wealthy household.
  • Nhà ấy ngày xưa sang lắm, kẻ hầu người hạ đông đúc. (That family was very wealthy in the past, with a crowd of servants.)
• "Bóp hầu bóp họng": To strangle, to put extreme pressure on someone (figuratively).
  • Chủ nợ bóp hầu bóp họng khiến anh ta phải bán nhà. (The creditors put the squeeze on him, forcing him to sell his house.)

verb

1. to serve in order to

noun

1. marquis
2. fauces
   • thuộc về hầu
     faucal; futtural
3. monkey