Definition

1. Noun:
   • Shorts: A type of clothing worn on the lower body, covering from the waist to above the knees or mid-thigh, typically made of lightweight fabric and used in casual or sporty contexts.
   • Breeches / Knickerbockers: A historical or specific type of short trousers that are loose and gathered at the knee, often used for certain sports or equestrian activities. (Note: This meaning is less common in modern everyday Vietnamese).
   • Underpants (archaic/regional): In some older or specific regional uses, it can refer to short undergarments. This usage is now largely obsolete in standard modern Vietnamese.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trời nóng quá, tôi sẽ mặc quần cộc. (It's so hot, I will wear shorts.)
  • Anh ấy thích mặc quần cộc khi chơi thể thao. (He likes to wear shorts when playing sports.)
  • Trong bảo tàng có trưng bày quần cộc của các cầu thủ bóng đá ngày xưa. (The museum displays the breeches of football players from the old days.)

Advanced Usage

• "Quần cộc túi hộp": Refers specifically to tailored shorts, often with a more formal or structured look, like tailored shorts or walking shorts.
  • Anh ấy mặc quần cộc túi hộp và áo sơ mi để dự tiệc ngoài trời. (He wore tailored shorts and a shirt for the outdoor party.)

Variants and Related Words

• Quần đùi (n): A more common and modern synonym for "shorts," especially casual or athletic shorts. It is often interchangeable with .
• Quần soóc (n): A direct phonetic borrowing from English "shorts," very commonly used.
• Quần short (n): Another common loanword from English for "shorts."
• Quần cụt (n): A colloquial term meaning very short shorts or cut-off shorts.

Synonyms

• Shorts: The most direct and common English equivalent.
• Breeches / Knickerbockers: For the specific historical/equestrian type.
• Trunks: Sometimes used for specific sportswear like swimming trunks (), which is a type of .

Related Phrases

• Mặc quần cộc: To wear shorts.
  • Trẻ con thường mặc quần cộc vào mùa hè. (Children often wear shorts in the summer.)
• Quần cộc thể thao: Sports shorts.
  • Cô ấy mua một chiếc quần cộc thể thao mới. (She bought a new pair of sports shorts.)

Notes on Usage

• In contemporary Vietnamese, quần cộc primarily means shorts. The meanings of "breeches" or "underpants" are archaic or highly contextual.
• For clarity in modern contexts, quần đùi or quần soóc are very frequent alternatives. Quần cộc might sound slightly more formal or descriptive than the very casual quần đùi.
• It is a noun and is often used with classifiers like or (e.g., - a pair of shorts).

1. Breeches, underpants
2. Shorts