Definition

1. Noun (Grammar):
   • Substantive: A word class that names a being, a thing, a place, a concept, or a substance. It is a traditional grammatical term, largely equivalent to the modern category of "noun."
   • Noun: In modern linguistic analysis, "thể từ" is understood as a direct translation for "noun," denoting a word that functions as the name of a specific object or set of objects.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • "Nhà", "cây", và "hạnh phúc" đều là những thể từ. ("House," "tree," and "happiness" are all nouns.)
  • Trong câu này, thể từ đóng vai trò chủ ngữ. (In this sentence, the noun functions as the subject.)

Advanced Usage

• "Thể từ riêng": Proper noun.
  • "Hà Nội" và "Việt Nam" là thể từ riêng. ("Hanoi" and "Vietnam" are proper nouns.)
• "Thể từ chung": Common noun.
  • "Thành phố" và "đất nước" là thể từ chung. ("City" and "country" are common nouns.)

Variants and Related Words

• Danh từ: This is the more common and contemporary Vietnamese term for "noun." It is synonymous with "thể từ."
  • Giáo viên dạy học sinh phân biệt các loại danh từ. (The teacher teaches students to distinguish types of nouns.)

Synonyms

• Noun: A word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things.
• Substantive: A traditional term for a noun or a word or phrase functioning as a noun.

Notes on Usage

• "Thể từ" is a specialized, somewhat archaic grammatical term derived from Sino-Vietnamese roots. In modern Vietnamese language teaching and linguistics, the term "danh từ" is universally preferred and used.
• You will encounter "thể từ" primarily in older texts, formal linguistic discussions, or direct translations from Western grammatical traditions (e.g., French "substantif").