sốp-phơ
Definition
- Noun:
- Chauffeur: A person employed to drive a private or hired automobile. The term "sốp-phơ" is a direct phonetic borrowing from the French word "chauffeur," used in Vietnamese to refer to a professional driver, typically for a private car or luxury vehicle.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông chủ thuê một sốp-phơ riêng. (The boss hired a private chauffeur.)
- Sốp-phơ đang đợi ở bên ngoài khách sạn. (The chauffeur is waiting outside the hotel.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "sốp-phơ" is considered a dated or formal borrowing in Vietnamese. In modern, everyday contexts, words like "tài xế" (driver) are more commonly used, while "sốp-phơ" may imply a more specialized or luxury service.
Variants and Related Words
- Tài xế (n): Driver. A more common and general Vietnamese term for a person who drives any vehicle.
- Tài xế taxi rất thân thiện. (The taxi driver is very friendly.)
Synonyms
- Driver: A person who operates a vehicle.
- Chauffeur: A person employed to drive a private automobile.
Notes on Usage
- "Sốp-phơ" is a loanword. Its usage is specific and less frequent in contemporary Vietnamese. It is important for learners to recognize it but to use the more common term "tài xế" in most situations.