Definition

1. Noun:
   • Soldier; Private: A person who serves in an army or armed force. This is the general term for a member of the military, often specifically referring to the lowest rank (private).
   • Subordinate; Underling (colloquial): A person who routinely carries out tasks under the direction or command of another person or office.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cha tôi từng là một người lính. (My father was once a soldier.)
  • Anh ấy nhập ngũ và trở thành một tân binh. (He enlisted and became a new private.)
  • Trong dự án này, tôi chỉ là lính, mọi quyết định đều do sếp đưa ra. (In this project, I'm just an underling; all decisions are made by the boss.)

Advanced Usage

• "lính đánh thuê": mercenary.

  • Nhóm lính đánh thuê đã bị bắt giữ. (The group of mercenaries was captured.)

• "lính tình nguyện": volunteer soldier.

  • Nhiều lính tình nguyện đã tham gia chiến dịch. (Many volunteer soldiers joined the campaign.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bộ đội (n): A more formal and respectful term for soldiers, specifically of the Vietnamese People's Army.

  • Các chú bộ đội giúp dân sửa nhà. (The soldiers helped the people repair their houses.)

• Quân nhân (n): Military personnel (a formal, official term).

  • Anh ấy là một quân nhân chuyên nghiệp. (He is a professional military serviceman.)

• Chú lính (n): A familiar, affectionate term for a soldier, often used by children.

  • Em bé rất thích chơi đồ chơi chú lính. (The child loves playing with toy soldiers.)

Synonyms

• Soldier: A person who serves in an army.
• Private: A soldier of the lowest rank.
• Trooper: A soldier, especially in a cavalry or armored unit.
• Subordinate: A person under the authority or control of another.

Related Idioms

• "Nhà lính tính nhà quan": Literally "a soldier's family acts like a mandarin's family." It criticizes a commoner or person of lower status who puts on airs or acts like a noble.

  • Anh ta mới có chút tiền đã nhà lính tính nhà quan. (He just got a little money and started putting on airs.)

• "Quan cứ lệnh, lính cứ truyền": Literally "the official gives the order, the soldier passes it on." It means each person should stick to their own role and duties.

  • Trong công ty phải theo nguyên tắc quan cứ lệnh, lính cứ truyền. (In a company, the principle of each person doing their own job must be followed.)

noun

1. soldier; private