Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, fast warship: "khinh hạm" refers to a small, fast naval vessel, typically armed and used for patrol, escort, or attack missions in coastal or riverine waters. It is often classified as a type of gunboat or patrol boat.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Hải quân sử dụng khinh hạm để tuần tra vùng biển. (The navy uses a vedette-boat to patrol the sea area.)
  • Chiếc khinh hạm đó có tốc độ rất nhanh. (That light warship has a very high speed.)

Advanced Usage

• Military Context: The term is primarily used in historical or specific military/naval contexts to describe a class of light combat vessels.
  • Trong trận chiến, các khinh hạm đã yểm trợ hỏa lực cho bộ binh. (In the battle, the vedettes provided fire support for the infantry.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tàu chiến (n): Warship (a broader term for any armed naval ship).
• Tàu tuần tra (n): Patrol boat (a general term for patrol vessels).
• Tàu phóng lôi (n): Torpedo boat (a specific type of fast attack craft).

Synonyms

• Vedette (n): The direct French-origin loanword used in naval terminology.
• Gunboat (n): A small armed vessel with heavy guns, often used in shallow waters.
• Patrol boat (n): A general term for a small naval vessel used for coastal defense, patrol, and enforcement.

Related Phrases (if applicable)

• Hạm đội khinh hạm: A flotilla of vedette-boats.
  • Hạm đội khinh hạm đang án ngữ tại cửa sông. (The flotilla of light warships is stationed at the river mouth.)

1. Vedette-boat