thầy cô
Definition
- Noun:
- Teachers (general, respectful): A respectful and collective term used to refer to teachers, instructors, or educators, typically in a school context. It combines "thầy" (male teacher) and "cô" (female teacher) to be inclusive and polite.
- A specific male teacher and his wife: In very specific, formal, or traditional contexts, it can be used as a title of address meaning "Mr. Teacher and Mrs.," referring to a male teacher and his spouse.
Usage Examples
- Noun (General, respectful):
- Chúng em chúc mừng tất cả thầy cô nhân Ngày Nhà giáo. (We congratulate all the teachers on Teachers' Day.)
- Kính mời thầy cô tham dự buổi họp phụ huynh. (We respectfully invite the teachers to attend the parent-teacher meeting.)
- Noun (Specific male teacher and wife):
- Gia đình em đến thăm nhà thầy cô. (My family went to visit the teacher and his wife at their home.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in modern Vietnamese as a standard, polite plural for "teachers." The older, more specific meaning (teacher and spouse) is less common today and is typically understood through context, often in formal invitations or traditional settings.
Variants and Related Words
- Thầy giáo (n): Male teacher, schoolmaster.
- Thầy giáo dạy môn Toán rất tận tâm. (The male teacher who teaches Math is very dedicated.)
- Cô giáo (n): Female teacher, schoolmistress.
- Cô giáo chủ nhiệm của chúng tôi rất hiền. (Our homeroom female teacher is very kind.)
- Giáo viên (n): Teacher (neutral, professional term).
- Trường học cần tuyển thêm giáo viên. (The school needs to recruit more teachers.)
Synonyms
- Teachers: Educators, instructors.
- Faculty: The teaching staff of an educational institution.
Related Idioms
- Tôn sư trọng đạo: (Idiom) "Respect the teacher, honor the doctrine." A core Vietnamese principle emphasizing respect for teachers and education.
- Truyền thống tôn sư trọng đạo luôn được giữ gìn. (The tradition of respecting teachers and valuing education is always preserved.)