thú vật

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Animal / Beast: A living organism that is not a plant, typically capable of voluntary movement. Often refers specifically to mammals (four-legged creatures), but can be used more broadly. The word can carry a neutral biological meaning or a negative connotation implying a lack of reason or civilized behavior, similar to "beast."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Sở thú là nơi bảo tồn nhiều loài thú vật. (The zoo is a place that conserves many species of animals.)
  • Hành động tàn ác đó đã biến hắn thành một thú vật. (That cruel action turned him into a beast.)
  • Bản năng thú vật đã chiến thắng lý trí. (The animal instinct overcame reason.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is sometimes used in philosophical or moral contexts to contrast instinct ("animal instinct") with human reason and civility.
• In older or more literary contexts, it is the general term for "animal," though in modern, neutral biological contexts, "động vật" is more common.

Variants and Related Words

• Động vật (n): Animal. This is the standard, neutral biological term for any member of the animal kingdom.
  • Vương quốc động vật rất đa dạng. (The animal kingdom is very diverse.)
• Thú (n): Can mean "animal," "beast," or "mammal." It is also used in compounds like "thú rừng" (wild animals) and "thú cưng" (pet).
  • Anh ấy có một con thú cưng là mèo. (He has a cat as a pet.)

Synonyms

• Animal: A living organism that feeds on organic matter.
• Beast: An animal, especially a large or dangerous four-legged one; can imply a cruel or coarse person.
• Creature: A living being, often used in a broader sense.

Related Idioms

• Đồ thú vật: You beast! (A strong insult implying someone is brutish or inhuman.)
  • Hãy buông cô ấy ra, đồ thú vật! (Let her go, you beast!)