Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small watercraft: A vehicle for transportation on water, typically smaller than a ship, often propelled by human power (oars, paddles) or wind (sails).
   • A vessel or boat: A general term for various types of watercraft used on rivers, lakes, and coastal areas.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ngư dân ra khơi trên chiếc thuyền của mình. (The fisherman goes out to sea on his boat.)
  • Chúng tôi thuê một chiếc thuyền để tham quan vịnh. (We rented a boat to tour the bay.)
  • Thuyền buồm đang lướt trên mặt nước. (The sailboat is gliding on the water.)

Advanced Usage

• "thuyền thúng" / "thuyền nan": A coracle or round boat; a small, traditional circular boat woven from bamboo, often used by fishermen.

  • Người dân làng chài đánh cá bằng thuyền thúng. (The fishing villagers catch fish using coracles.)

• "thuyền rồng": A dragon boat; a long, narrow canoe-style boat decorated like a dragon, used in racing festivals.

  • Lễ hội đua thuyền rồng thu hút rất đông người xem. (The dragon boat racing festival attracts many spectators.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thuyền bè (n): A collective term for boats and rafts; watercraft in general.

  • Thuyền bè tấp nập trên sông. (Boats and rafts are bustling on the river.)

• Thuyền trưởng (n): Captain (of a ship or boat). (Note: This is a compound word listed here as a related term.)

  • Thuyền trưởng đang chỉ huy trên boong. (The captain is commanding on the deck.)

• Thuyền viên (n): Crew member, sailor. (Note: This is a compound word listed here as a related term.)

  • Các thuyền viên đang kéo lưới. (The crew members are pulling in the net.)

Synonyms

• Tàu: Ship, vessel (generally larger than a ).
• Xuồng: Dinghy, small boat (often refers to a smaller craft than ).
• Ghe: A term used in Southern Vietnam for a boat, often a larger wooden cargo boat.

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Chèo thuyền: To row a boat.

  • Họ chèo thuyền qua sông. (They row the boat across the river.)

• Đóng thuyền: To build a boat.

  • Ông ấy học cách đóng thuyền từ cha. (He learned how to build a boat from his father.)

• Lên thuyền: To board/get on a boat.

  • Du khách lên thuyền để bắt đầu hành trình. (Tourists board the boat to begin the journey.)

Related Idioms

• Thuận buồm xuôi gió: Literally "favorable sail, smooth wind"; meaning to go very smoothly, without obstacles (often used for journeys or ventures).

  • Chúc bạn chuyến đi thuận buồm xuôi gió! (I wish you a journey that goes as smoothly as a boat with favorable winds!)

• Nước đổ lá khoai / Nước đổ đầu vịt: Literally "water poured on taro leaves / water poured on a duck's head"; meaning advice or criticism has no effect, often likened to water running off a boat.

  • Lời khuyên của tôi với nó như nước đổ lá khoai. (My advice to him is like water off a duck's back.)

noun

1. boat schooner