Definition

1. Noun:

   • Nest: A structure built by birds, insects, or some other animals as a place to live, lay eggs, and raise their young.
   • Group, Team, Unit: A small, organized team of people working together on a specific task or within a larger organization.
   • Ancestor, Founder, Originator: The person considered to be the first of a lineage or the founder of a craft, trade, or tradition.

2. Adverb (colloquial):

   • Only to, Just to (result in): Used to emphasize that an action will inevitably lead to a negative or futile outcome. Often follows "chỉ" (only) or "càng" (more).

Usage Examples

• Noun (Nest):
  • Con chim đang xây tổ trên cành cây. (The bird is building a nest on the tree branch.)
  • Trẻ em không nên phá tổ kiến. (Children should not destroy ant nests.)
• Noun (Group/Team):
  • Tổ của chúng tôi có năm thành viên. (Our team has five members.)
  • Cô ấy là tổ trưởng tổ sản xuất. (She is the leader of the production team.)
• Noun (Ancestor/Founder):
  • Ngày giỗ tổ Hùng Vương là ngày lễ quan trọng. (Hung Kings' Commemoration Day is an important holiday.)
  • Ông được tôn vinh là tổ nghề gốm. (He is honored as the founder of the pottery craft.)
• Adverb:
  • Nói nhiều chỉ tổ mệt. (Talking too much only makes you tired.)
  • Càng cãi nhau càng tổ thêm buồn. (Arguing more just results in more sadness.)

Advanced Usage

• "tổ tiên": ancestors, forefathers.
  • Chúng ta phải biết ơn tổ tiên. (We must be grateful to our ancestors.)
• "tổ quốc": fatherland, homeland.
  • Bảo vệ tổ quốc là nhiệm vụ thiêng liêng. (Protecting the fatherland is a sacred duty.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tổ ấm (n): Literally "warm nest"; figuratively means a warm, happy home.
  • Họ cùng nhau xây dựng tổ ấm. (They built a happy home together.)
• Tổ chức (v/n): to organize; an organization.
  • Công ty này tổ chức một sự kiện hàng năm. (This company organizes an annual event.)

Synonyms

• Nest: abode, den, hive.
• Group: team, unit, squad, crew.
• Ancestor: forebear, progenitor, founder, originator.

Related Idioms

• Ong vỡ tổ: Literally "bees breaking their nest"; describes a scene of chaotic panic or disorder.
  • Nghe tin, cả nhà như ong vỡ tổ. (Hearing the news, the whole house was in complete chaos.)
• Kiến tha lâu cũng đầy tổ: Literally "ants carrying things for a long time will also fill their nest"; means "little by little does the trick" or "many a little makes a mickle," emphasizing persistence.
  • Cứ tiết kiệm dần, kiến tha lâu cũng đầy tổ mà. (Just save bit by bit; little by little does the trick.)

noun

1. nest group, team