Definition

1. Noun:
   • Croupier (at a gambling table): A person who collects bets and pays out winnings at a gambling table, especially in traditional Vietnamese games like sóc đĩa (a dice game) or thò lò.
   • Historical/Obsolescent Term: This word is considered an old or obsolete term, primarily used in the context of traditional, often informal or illegal, gambling settings.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ta từng làm hồ lì ở sòng bạc. (He used to be a croupier at the gambling den.)
  • Trong trò chơi sóc đĩa, hồ lì là người vơ tiền và chia bài. (In the dice game, the hồ lì is the person who collects the money and deals.)

Advanced Usage

• "Làm nghề hồ lì": To work as a croupier; to be a croupier by profession.
  • Ông cụ kể lại chuyện ngày xưa làm nghề hồ lì. (The old man recounted stories from the past when he worked as a croupier.)

Variants and Related Words

• Croupier (English loanword): The modern, more international term for a casino employee performing similar duties. is the older Vietnamese equivalent.
• Người chia bài: Dealer (a more general, modern term for someone who deals cards in games).
• Nhà cái: The bank/house (in gambling, the entity that sets the odds and covers bets; a related but distinct role from ).

Synonyms

• Croupier: The direct English equivalent.
• Dealer: Especially in card games, though "dealer" is broader.
• Người thu tiền (trong cờ bạc): Money collector (in gambling).

Notes on Usage

• Register: The word hồ lì is archaic and carries connotations of informal, traditional, or underground gambling dens. It is rarely used in modern contexts, especially in legal, regulated casinos where terms like "dealer" or "croupier" are standard.
• Context: Its use today is mostly historical, literary, or when specifically referring to the traditional gambling scene of the past.

1. Croupier (at a gambling table)
   • Làm nghề hồ lì
     To be a croupier by profession