thoái
Definition
Verb:
- To retreat / to withdraw: To move back or away from a position, especially in a military or strategic context.
- To decline / to refuse: To politely reject or step back from an offer, position, or responsibility.
Verb (formal/archaic usage):
- To return / to refund: To give something back, especially money or property.
Usage Examples
Verb (to retreat):
- Tướng lệnh cho quân đội thoái về phía bắc. (The general ordered the army to retreat to the north.)
- Ông ấy xin thoái khỏi chức vụ. (He requested to withdraw from the position.)
Verb (to decline):
- Tôi xin thoái, không dám nhận món quá quý giá này. (I must decline; I dare not accept this overly valuable gift.)
Advanced Usage
"thoái lui": to retreat, to pull back (emphasizing the backward movement).
- Sau thất bại, địch buộc phải thoái lui. (After the defeat, the enemy was forced to retreat.)
"thoái vị": to abdicate (a throne).
- Nhà vua đã thoái vị vào năm 1945. (The king abdicated in 1945.)
Variants and Related Words
Thoái quân (v): to withdraw troops.
- Lệnh thoái quân được ban ra. (The order to withdraw troops was issued.)
Thoái hóa (v): to degenerate, to deteriorate (often used in biology or morality).
- Tế bào có thể thoái hóa theo thời gian. (Cells can degenerate over time.)
Hoàn thoái (v): to refund, to return (money).
- Cửa hàng sẽ hoàn thoái tiền cho bạn. (The store will refund your money.)
Synonyms
- Retreat: to move back from a place or situation.
- Withdraw: to remove oneself or to pull back.
- Decline: to refuse politely.
- Refund: to give back money.
Related Idioms
- Tiến thoái lưỡng nan: To be in a dilemma; to be caught between a rock and a hard place (literally: "advance-retreat two-difficult").
- Anh ấy rơi vào thế tiến thoái lưỡng nan. (He found himself in a dilemma.)