người nhà
Definition
- Noun:
- A family member; a relative: Refers to a person who belongs to one's own family or household.
- A domestic helper; a house servant (archaic): Historically referred to a person hired to perform small tasks within a household.
Usage Examples
Noun (Family Member):
- Anh ấy không phải là khách, anh ấy là người nhà. (He is not a guest; he is family.)
- Chỉ có người nhà mới được vào khu vực này. (Only family members are allowed in this area.)
Noun (Domestic Helper - archaic):
- Ông chủ sai người nhà đi chợ. (The master sent the house servant to the market.)
Advanced Usage
- The term can imply a sense of intimacy, trust, or insider status within a private circle, not strictly limited by blood relation.
- Cô ấy thân thiết như người nhà vậy. (She is as close as family.)
Variants and Related Words
Gia đình (n): family (the collective unit).
- Gia đình tôi có bốn người. (My family has four people.)
Họ hàng (n): relatives, extended family.
- Họ hàng ở quê lên chơi. (Relatives from the countryside came to visit.)
Synonyms
- Family member: A person belonging to one's family.
- Relative: A person connected by blood or marriage.
- Domestic (archaic): A household servant.
Related Idioms
Có người nhà làm quan: To have a family member in a high position (implying influence or privilege).
- Hắn ta hay ỷ thế có người nhà làm quan. (He often relies on having a family member in a powerful position.)
Như người nhà: To treat someone like family; with great familiarity and warmth.
- Họ đối xử với tôi như người nhà. (They treat me like family.)