Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Thin, sparse, not dense: Describes objects or people that are few in number and spaced far apart within a given area.
   • Occasional, infrequent: Describes events or actions that happen rarely or at long intervals.

2. Verb:

   • To respond, to answer (a call): To verbally reply when one's name is called or to acknowledge a summons.
   • To address respectfully, to tell (a superior): To speak to someone of higher status (like a parent, teacher, or official) in a polite manner, often to inform or ask permission.
   • To complain, to petition (an authority): To formally present a grievance or case to someone in authority, such as a judge.

3. Particle (Polite Address):

   • A respectful word used at the beginning of a sentence when addressing someone older or of higher status, or when speaking to an audience. It functions as a polite honorific similar to "Sir," "Madam," or "Ladies and Gentlemen" in English.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Tóc anh ấy rất thưa. (His hair is very thin/sparse.)
  • Tiếng súng nghe thưa dần. (The sound of gunfire became more occasional.)

• Verb:

  • Tôi gọi nhưng không ai thưa. (I called but no one answered.)
  • Cháu phải thưa với bố mẹ trước khi đi. (You must tell your parents before going.)
  • Người nông dân đi thưa quan. (The farmer went to petition the mandarin.)

• Particle:

  • Thưa ông, ông để quên ví. (Sir, you forgot your wallet.)
  • Thưa cô, em có một câu hỏi. (Teacher, I have a question.)
  • Thưa quý vị đại biểu! (Honored delegates!)

Advanced Usage

• "thưa kiện": to sue, to file a lawsuit.

  • Công ty quyết định thưa kiện đối tác. (The company decided to sue its partner.)

• "thưa gửi": a polite and humble way to say "to tell" or "to report" to a superior.

  • Con có điều muốn thưa gửi với cha mẹ. (I have something I wish to tell you, father and mother.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thưa thớt (adj): very sparse, scattered.

  • Dân cư trong vùng này còn thưa thớt. (The population in this area is still very sparse.)

• Vắng thưa (adj): deserted, with very few people.

  • Con đường vắng thưa người qua lại. (The road was deserted, with few passersby.)

Synonyms

• Adjective: sparse, scarce, infrequent, occasional.
• Verb: to answer, to reply, to address, to inform, to complain, to petition.
• Particle: (a polite address marker with no direct single-word equivalent).

Related Idioms

• Thưa như tời đục: (Literally: as sparse as a drill's teeth) – meaning very sparse or scarce.

  • Nghĩa quân ban đầu còn thưa như tời đục. (The righteous soldiers were initially as scarce as a drill's teeth.)

• Gọi dạ bảo vâng / Gọi dạ thưa vâng: (Literally: answer 'yes' when called, say 'yes' when told) – describes an obedient, respectful child or subordinate who always complies.

  • Đứa trẻ ngoan ngoãn, biết gọi dạ thưa vâng. (The child is well-behaved, knowing to answer respectfully and obey.)

adj

1. thin, sparse occasional

verb

1. to complain to