thăm hỏi
Definition
- Verb:
- To visit and inquire about someone's well-being: The primary meaning of "thăm hỏi" is the combined act of paying a visit to someone and asking about their health, life, or situation, often to show care and concern.
- To pay a courtesy call: It can refer to a formal or polite visit to maintain social connections and show respect.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Chúng tôi đến bệnh viện để thăm hỏi người bị nạn. (We went to the hospital to visit and inquire about the injured person.)
- Mùng một Tết, mọi người thường đi thăm hỏi họ hàng. (On the first day of Tet, people often visit and inquire after their relatives.)
Advanced Usage
- The term inherently combines two actions: the physical act of visiting ("thăm") and the verbal act of inquiring ("hỏi"). It is used in contexts where the purpose is to express care, not just socialize.
- It is commonly used in formal, caring, or compassionate contexts, such as visiting the sick, the elderly, or during holidays and special occasions.
Variants and Related Words
- Thăm viếng (v): to pay a visit, often with a connotation of formality or visiting a place like a pagoda or a grave.
- Hàng năm, chúng tôi đi thăm viếng mộ tổ tiên. (Every year, we visit our ancestors' graves.)
- Thăm nom (v): to visit and look after someone, implying ongoing care.
- Cô y tá thường xuyên thăm nom các bệnh nhân cao tuổi. (The nurse regularly visits and looks after the elderly patients.)
Synonyms
- To call on: to visit someone, especially for a short time.
- To pay a visit: to go and see someone.
- To inquire after: to ask about someone's health or well-being.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Thăm hỏi sức khỏe: to inquire specifically about someone's health.
- Bác sĩ gọi điện để thăm hỏi sức khỏe bệnh nhân. (The doctor called to inquire about the patient's health.)
- Đi thăm hỏi: to go visiting (with the purpose of inquiring).
- Công ty cử đại diện đi thăm hỏi gia đình nhân viên ốm. (The company sent a representative to visit and inquire after the family of the sick employee.)