Definition

1. Adjective:
   • In office, incumbent: Describes a person who currently holds a specific official position or job.
   • In-service: Describes a form of education or training undertaken while simultaneously maintaining one's regular employment; part-time or continuing education for working professionals.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (in office):
  • Viên chức tại chức đó rất được kính trọng. (That incumbent official is highly respected.)
• Adjective (in-service):
  • Cô ấy theo học chương trình đại học tại chức. (She is enrolled in an in-service university program.)
  • Anh ấy vừa đi làm vừa học hệ tại chức. (He works and studies in the in-service system simultaneously.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is most commonly used in modern Vietnamese to refer to the in-service education system, contrasting with full-time, concentrated study ("hệ chính quy").
• It implies a mode of learning where the student's primary identity remains that of a worker, and studies are scheduled around work commitments (e.g., evenings, weekends).

Variants and Related Words

• Học tại chức (v): to study in an in-service program.
  • Nhiều người lựa chọn học tại chức để nâng cao trình độ. (Many people choose to study in-service to improve their qualifications.)
• Hệ tại chức (n): the in-service education system.
  • Bằng đại học hệ tại chức có giá trị tương đương. (A degree from the in-service system has equivalent value.)

Synonyms

• Incumbent: currently holding an office.
• In-service: occurring during one's employment.
• Part-time study: a mode of education while working (contextual synonym for the educational sense).

Related Terms and Concepts

• Chính quy (adj): regular, full-time (referring to the standard, concentrated form of education).
• Vừa học vừa làm (phrase): to study and work at the same time; a descriptive phrase for "tại chức" in the educational context.

adj

1. in office, incumbent. in service