sỉ
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Wholesale; bulk: Describes the buying or selling of goods in large quantities, typically at a lower price per unit. This is the primary and most standard meaning.
- Retail (regional/dialectal): In some regional dialects of Vietnamese, "sỉ" can paradoxically mean selling in small quantities or retail. This usage is noted as dialectal and context-dependent.
Usage Examples
- Adjective (Wholesale):
- Cửa hàng này chỉ bán sỉ cho các đại lý. (This store only sells wholesale to distributors.)
- Giá sỉ rẻ hơn nhiều so với giá lẻ. (The wholesale price is much cheaper than the retail price.)
- Adjective (Dialectal - Retail):
- Ở vùng quê, họ thường gọi bán lẻ là bán sỉ. (In the countryside, they often call retail selling "bán sỉ".)
Advanced Usage
- The word "sỉ" is almost exclusively used in commercial contexts. Its meaning is highly dependent on the accompanying verb (e.g., - to sell wholesale, - to buy wholesale) and regional practice.
Variants and Related Words
- Bán sỉ (v): to sell wholesale (or regionally, to sell retail).
- Mua sỉ (v): to buy wholesale.
- Giá sỉ (n): wholesale price.
- Lẻ (adj): retail. This is the direct and unambiguous antonym for the standard meaning of "sỉ".
Synonyms
- Wholesale: for the standard meaning.
- Bulk: indicating large quantity purchases.
Notes on Usage
- Critical Distinction: The dialectal meaning of "sỉ" as is a notable exception. In standard Vietnamese and in most formal/business contexts, "sỉ" unambiguously means wholesale. The opposite, retail, is consistently "lẻ".
- Context is Key: To avoid confusion, especially when dealing with different regions, it is crucial to clarify the context or use the full phrase (e.g., for wholesale, for retail) for absolute clarity.