lính thủy
Definition
- Noun:
- Sailor / Seaman: A member of a navy or a person who works on a ship, especially a warship. This is the general term for an enlisted naval serviceman.
- Marine: In some historical or specific contexts, it can refer to a soldier trained for service on land and at sea. The modern, distinct term for a marine in Vietnamese is "lính thủy đánh bộ."
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông nội tôi từng là một lính thủy trong Hải quân. (My grandfather was a sailor in the Navy.)
- Các lính thủy đang làm nhiệm vụ tuần tra trên biển. (The seamen are on patrol duty at sea.)
- Trong trận chiến đó, lính thủy đã đổ bộ lên bờ. (In that battle, the marines landed on the shore.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often part of compound nouns that specify the type of naval personnel.
- It can be used informally to describe someone who is accustomed to or works on the sea.
Variants and Related Words
- Lính thủy đánh bộ (n): Marine (literally, "sailor who fights on land"). This is the modern, precise term for a marine corps soldier.
- Lính thủy đánh bộ là lực lượng tác chiến đặc biệt. (Marines are a special combat force.)
- Thủy thủ (n): Sailor, crewman. This is a more general term for any ship's crew member, not necessarily military.
- Các thủy thủ trên tàu buôn đang chuẩn bị cập cảng. (The sailors on the merchant ship are preparing to dock.)
- Hải quân (n): Navy.
- Anh trai tôi phục vụ trong hải quân. (My older brother serves in the navy.)
Synonyms
- Sailor: A person who works on a ship.
- Seaman: A sailor, especially one in a navy.
- Mariner: A formal term for a sailor.
- Marine: A soldier trained for amphibious warfare. (Note: Context is key for this synonym.)
Related Idioms
- Cứng như lính thủy: As tough as a sailor. Used to describe someone very strong, resilient, or hardened.
- Dù đã già, ông ấy vẫn cứng như lính thủy. (Although old, he is still as tough as a sailor.)