Definition

Noun (archaic): 1. Clerk / Scribe: A low-ranking official or functionary in the feudal or colonial administrative system of Vietnam, responsible for handling documents, paperwork, and clerical duties in government offices or district bureaus. 2. (Nautical, historical) Purser / Quartermaster: A specific historical usage referring to a supply officer or clerk on a ship, responsible for provisions and accounts.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông nội tôi từng làm thư lại ở một công đường tỉnh. (My grandfather once worked as a clerk in a provincial office.)
  • Trong xã hội phong kiến, chức thư lại thường do những người có học đảm nhiệm. (In feudal society, the position of scribe was often held by educated people.)
  • Trên tàu, thư lại phụ trách việc quản lý lương thực. (On the ship, the purser was in charge of managing provisions.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "thư lại" is now considered archaic and is primarily found in historical texts, literature, or discussions about Vietnam's pre-modern administration. It evokes a specific historical and social context.
• It can sometimes carry a connotation of a minor, perhaps bureaucratic, official with limited authority.

Variants and Related Words

• Thơ lại: An alternate historical spelling or variant of "thư lại" with the same meaning.
• Công chức (n): Civil servant. A modern term for a government official.
• Thư ký (n): Secretary. A modern clerical role.

Synonyms

• Scribe
• Clerk
• Official (minor/low-ranking)
• Purser (nautical context)

Notes on Usage

• As an archaic term, "thư lại" is not used in contemporary job titles or modern administrative contexts. Using it today would be for historical or literary effect.
• When translating historical documents, "clerk" or "scribe" is often the most appropriate equivalent to convey the bureaucratic nature of the role.

noun

1. (cũ) clerk