thôn xóm
Definition
- Noun:
- A village or hamlet; a small rural community. This is the most common meaning, referring to a small settlement in the countryside, smaller than a town or city. It emphasizes the physical place and its community.
- The villagers; the community of a hamlet. This meaning refers collectively to the people living in such a small rural settlement.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Cuộc sống ở thôn xóm thật yên bình. (Life in the village is very peaceful.)
- Tin tức lan nhanh khắp thôn xóm. (The news spread quickly throughout the hamlet.)
- Cả thôn xóm cùng nhau sửa lại con đường. (The whole village worked together to repair the road.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "thôn xóm" is often used in a general, collective sense to evoke the image of traditional, close-knit rural communities in Vietnam. It carries connotations of simplicity, tradition, and neighborly bonds.
Variants and Related Words
- Làng (n): village. A more common and general term for a village.
- Xóm (n): hamlet, small village lane or cluster of houses. Often a part of a larger .
- Làng xóm (n): villages and hamlets; the rural community. Very similar in meaning and usage to .
Synonyms
- Hamlet: a small settlement, generally smaller than a village.
- Village: a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet.
- Rural community: the people living in a countryside area.
Related Idioms
- Trên kính dưới nhường (a related concept): This phrase describes the respectful and deferential behavior expected within a thôn xóm, meaning to respect those older and yield to those younger, reflecting traditional village harmony.
- Sống trong thôn xóm phải biết trên kính dưới nhường. (Living in a village, one must know to respect elders and yield to the young.)