Definition

1. Verb:

   • To visit; to call on; to call at: The primary meaning of "thăm" is to go to see a person or a place, often for a social purpose, to show care, or to inquire about a situation.
   • To inspect; to survey: In specific contexts, "thăm" can mean to examine or look over a situation, such as checking on the condition of something.

2. Noun:

   • Lot; ballot; slip: A small piece of paper or object used in a draw to decide something by chance or to cast a vote.
   • Vote: The act or instance of voting using such a ballot.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Chúng tôi sẽ đi thăm ông bà vào cuối tuần. (We will visit our grandparents this weekend.)
  • Bác sĩ đến thăm bệnh nhân mỗi sáng. (The doctor visits the patients every morning.)
  • Giám đốc đi thăm công trường. (The director went to inspect the construction site.)
• Noun:
  • Mọi người bỏ thăm để chọn lớp trưởng. (Everyone cast a ballot to elect the class president.)
  • Ai rút được thăm đỏ sẽ thắng. (Whoever draws the red lot will win.)

Advanced Usage

• "thăm dò": to probe, to survey, to explore (e.g., opinions, terrain).
  • Công ty tiến hành thăm dò ý kiến khách hàng. (The company conducted a customer opinion survey.)
• "thăm hỏi": to inquire after, to ask about someone's health/well-being.
  • Anh ấy gọi điện để thăm hỏi sức khỏe của tôi. (He called to inquire about my health.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thăm viếng (v): to pay a visit (often formal or to 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.)
• Lá thăm (n): a slip, a lot (the physical piece of paper).
  • Mỗi người bốc một lá thăm. (Each person picks a slip.)

Synonyms

• Visit: to go to see a person or place.
• Call on: to visit someone.
• Ballot: a process or piece of paper used for voting.
• Lot: an object used in making a chance decision.

Related Idioms

• Đi thăm quan / Tham quan: to go sightseeing. (Note: "tham quan" is the more standard modern spelling for sightseeing).
  • Đoàn khách nước ngoài đi thăm quan Vịnh Hạ Long. (The foreign delegation went sightseeing in Ha Long Bay.)
• Bỏ thăm (also bỏ phiếu): to cast a vote, to ballot.
  • Cử tri đi bỏ thăm từ sáng sớm. (Voters went to cast their ballots early in the morning.)

noun

1. lot; ballot, vote

verb

1. to visit; to call at