thân yêu
Definition
Adjective:
- Beloved / Dear: Expressing deep affection, love, or endearment towards a person. It conveys a close, warm, and cherished relationship.
- Affectionate / Loving: Describing a feeling or attitude characterized by tenderness and care.
Noun (used in direct address):
- My dear / My beloved: A term of endearment used to directly address someone you love deeply, such as a family member, partner, or close friend.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- Gửi người bạn thân yêu. (To my beloved friend.)
- Cô ấy có một giọng nói rất thân yêu. (She has a very affectionate voice.)
Noun (in address):
- Thân yêu ơi, em ở đâu? (My dear, where are you?)
- Các con thân yêu của mẹ. (My beloved children.)
Advanced Usage
- Used as a standard closing in personal letters to convey warmth and intimacy.
- Ký tên, người cha thân yêu của con. (Signed, your loving father.)
Variants and Related Words
Yêu thương (v): to love, to cherish.
- Cha mẹ luôn yêu thương con cái. (Parents always love their children.)
Thân mến (adj): dear, affectionate (slightly less intimate than "thân yêu," often used in letters to friends or acquaintances).
- Gửi anh Nam thân mến. (Dear Nam.)
Synonyms
- Beloved: Deeply loved.
- Dear: Regarded with deep affection.
- Affectionate: Showing fondness or tenderness.
Related Idioms
Trái tim thân yêu: beloved heart.
- Anh nhớ mãi trái tim thân yêu đó. (He always remembers that beloved heart.)
Quê hương thân yêu: beloved homeland.
- Tôi muốn trở về quê hương thân yêu. (I want to return to my beloved homeland.)