Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Proper, correct, in accordance with rules or etiquette: Describes behavior, actions, or speech that follows established social norms, rules of conduct, or propriety.
   • Polite, well-mannered: Indicates behavior that is respectful and appropriate within a given social or hierarchical context.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Con cái phải cư xử cho phải phép với cha mẹ. (Children must behave properly towards their parents.)
  • Lời nói của anh ấy rất phải phép và tôn trọng. (His words were very proper and respectful.)
  • Đến nhà người khác phải chào hỏi cho phải phép. (When visiting someone's house, one must greet them in a proper manner.)

Advanced Usage

• "cho phải phép": as a set adverbial phrase meaning "to be proper/polite", "for the sake of propriety", or "to do the right thing". It often implies an action is done more out of duty or convention than personal desire.
  • Tôi mời họ dự tiệc cho phải phép, chứ không thật sự muốn. (I invited them to the party to be polite, not because I really wanted to.)
• Used to describe actions that fulfill a formal or social obligation.
  • Anh ta đến thăm cho phải phép rồi về ngay. (He visited as a formality and then left immediately.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lễ phép (adj): Polite, well-mannered (often used specifically for children's behavior towards elders). (That child is very polite.)
• Phải lẽ (adj): Reasonable, justified. (What you say is very reasonable.)
• Phép tắc (n): Rules, regulations, etiquette. (Everyone must follow the rules.)

Synonyms

• Đúng mực: Proper, correct in manner.
• Lịch sự: Polite, courteous.
• Ngoan ngoãn: Well-behaved, obedient (often for children).

Related Phrases

• Ăn nói phải phép: To speak properly/politely.
  • Trước mặt khách, con phải ăn nói phải phép. (In front of guests, you must speak politely.)
• Cư xử phải phép: To behave properly.
  • Học sinh phải cư xử phải phép trong trường. (Students must behave properly in school.)

Related Idioms

• Trên kính dưới nhường: (Literally: Respect those above, yield to those below). This idiom encapsulates the concept of phải phép within hierarchical relationships, emphasizing respect and proper conduct.
  • Gia đình ấy sống theo đạo trên kính dưới nhường. (That family lives by the principle of showing respect to superiors and deference to inferiors.)

1. Conform to the rule of conduct