Definitions

1. Noun:

   • A written message: A piece of paper or digital text used to send personal news, opinions, or feelings from one person to another.
   • A letter (as a genre): A formal or informal written communication.

2. Adjective:

   • Not busy; having free time: Describes a state of being less occupied or having fewer tasks.
   • Slow; relaxed; not urgent: Describes a pace or manner that is unhurried and gentle.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Tôi nhận được một thư từ người bạn cũ. (I received a letter from an old friend.)
  • Cô ấy viết thư tay rất đẹp. (She writes handwritten letters very beautifully.)

• Adjective:

  • Dạo này công việc của anh ấy đã thư hơn. (Lately, his work has been less busy.)
  • Xin cứ thư thư, không cần vội. (Please take it slow/relax, no need to hurry.)

Advanced Usage

• "thư từ": Correspondence; letters (plural, often referring to the act of exchanging letters).

  • Họ giữ liên lạc qua thư từ trong nhiều năm. (They kept in touch through correspondence for many years.)

• "thư báo": A notice letter; an official letter of notification.

  • Công ty gửi thư báo về sự thay đổi chính sách. (The company sent a notice letter about the policy change.)

• "thư thả": Leisurely; in a relaxed and unhurried manner.

  • Anh ấy bước đi rất thư thả trong công viên. (He walked very leisurely in the park.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thư ký (noun): Secretary. (Note: This is a compound word where "thư" relates to documents/writing.)
• Thư viện (noun): Library. (Note: This is a compound word where "thư" relates to books/documents.)
• Thư giãn (verb): To relax. (Note: This is a compound verb.)
• Thưa (adjective/adverb/verb): Sparse; to address someone politely (e.g., "thưa ông" - Dear Sir); to speak up.

Synonyms

• Lá thư (noun): Letter (synonymous with the noun form).
• Bức thư (noun): Letter (synonymous with the noun form, often used for a single, specific letter).
• Nhàn rỗi (adjective): Free; idle (synonymous with the adjective form meaning 'not busy').
• Khoan thai (adjective): Leisurely; unhurried (synonymous with the adjective form meaning 'slow/relaxed').

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Viết thư: To write a letter.
  • Bà tôi thích viết thư hơn là gửi email. (My grandmother prefers to write letters rather than send emails.)
• Gửi thư: To send a letter/mail.
  • Tôi sẽ gửi thư cho bạn vào ngày mai. (I will send a letter to you tomorrow.)
• Đợi thư: To wait for a letter.
  • Cậu bé đợi thư phản hồi từ trường đại học. (The boy waited for a letter of response from the university.)

Related Idioms

• "Thư đi tin lại": Literally "letter goes, news returns"; meaning to maintain frequent correspondence, keeping in close contact.
  • Dù xa nhau, họ vẫn thư đi tin lại đều đặn. (Even though they are apart, they still exchange letters regularly.)
• "Thư kiến nghị": A petition letter (a specific type of formal letter).
  • Cộng đồng đã gửi một thư kiến nghị tới chính quyền địa phương. (The community sent a petition letter to the local authorities.)

noun

1. letter