Definition

1. Verb:
   • To respect: To hold someone in high esteem due to their seniority, moral character, knowledge, or talent, leading to voluntary, polite, and considerate behavior towards them. It implies a deep, sincere admiration and deference.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Học trò phải kính trọng thầy giáo. (Pupils must respect their teachers.)
  • Chúng tôi kính trọng những người cao tuổi. (We respect the elderly.)
  • Mọi người đều kính trọng vị giáo sư ấy vì kiến thức uyên bác của ông. (Everyone respects that professor for his profound knowledge.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "kính trọng" often carries a formal and profound tone, typically used for superiors, elders, or individuals with significant social or moral stature. It is stronger and more reverent than the more general term "tôn trọng" (to respect).

Variants and Related Words

• Kính yêu (v): to love and respect (often used for parents, grandparents).

  • Con cái nên kính yêu cha mẹ. (Children should love and respect their parents.)

• Tôn kính (v): to revere, to venerate (an even stronger level of respect, often with a spiritual or heroic connotation).

  • Nhân dân tôn kính các anh hùng dân tộc. (The people revere national heroes.)

Synonyms

• Respect: To admire someone deeply.
• Esteem: To regard with high respect.
• Revere: To feel deep respect or admiration.

Related Idioms

• Kính trên nhường dưới: To respect those above and yield to those below; a principle of hierarchical respect and humility in social interactions.
  • Gia đình nào cũng nên giữ phép kính trên nhường dưới. (Every family should observe the principle of respecting seniors and being humble to juniors.)

1. Respect
   • Học trò thì phải kính trọng thầy giáo
     Pupils must respect their teachers