Definition

1. Verb:
   • To serve; to attend to: To perform tasks, often of a physical or menial nature, for another person, typically someone of higher status. It implies diligent and assiduous service.
   • To wait on; to care for: To provide attentive service, often in a domestic or personal care context, such as looking after a sick person or handling daily chores.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy phục dịch gia đình chủ nhà rất chu đáo. (She serves the host family very attentively.)
  • Y tá phục dịch người bệnh suốt đêm. (The nurse attended to the patient all night.)
  • Trong cung đình xưa, có nhiều người hầu phục dịch vua. (In the old royal court, many servants attended to the king.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a connotation of hard, diligent labor in service. It is commonly used in contexts involving hierarchy, such as serving a master, employer, or superior.
• It can describe the act of fulfilling demanding or tedious tasks for someone else's benefit or comfort.

Variants and Related Words

• Phục vụ (v): To serve. This is a more general and neutral term for service, without the strong connotation of menial or arduous labor inherent in "phục dịch."
  • Nhân viên phục vụ trong nhà hàng. (The staff serves in the restaurant.)

Synonyms

• Serve: To perform duties for someone.
• Attend to: To care for or look after.
• Wait on: To serve someone's needs.
• Minister to: To provide help or care.

Related Idioms

• While "phục dịch" itself is not commonly part of idioms, the concept is central to phrases describing servitude or hard service.
• Đầu tắt mặt tối: (Idiom meaning to be extremely busy, working tirelessly) This idiom describes a state that could result from constant "phục dịch."
  • Bà ấy đầu tắt mặt tối với công việc phục dịch trong gia đình. (She is endlessly busy with servile work in the household.)

verb

1. to serve; to attend tọ