thương yêu
Definition
- Verb:
- To love dearly / to cherish: To feel a profound, deep, and tender affection and care for someone, often involving a strong emotional bond and a desire for their well-being. It implies a combination of love ("yêu") and compassionate fondness ("thương").
- To have deep affection for: To hold someone in very high regard with feelings of warmth, attachment, and protective care.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cha mẹ luôn thương yêu con cái vô điều kiện. (Parents always love their children unconditionally.)
- Cô ấy thương yêu chú chó của mình như một thành viên trong gia đình. (She cherishes her dog like a family member.)
- Nhân dân thương yêu vị lãnh tụ vĩ đại. (The people have deep affection for the great leader.)
Advanced Usage
- "thương yêu" vs. "yêu": While "yêu" is a general term for love (romantic, platonic), "thương yêu" often carries a nuance of compassionate, nurturing, and sometimes more mature or familial love. It is common in contexts describing parental love, love for one's country, or deep compassionate love.
- Tình cảm của cô dành cho những đứa trẻ mồ côi là tình thương yêu chân thành. (Her feelings for the orphaned children are sincere, compassionate love.)
Variants and Related Words
Thương (v): to feel pity, compassion, or fondness for; often used in contexts of empathy or less intense affection than "thương yêu."
- Tôi thương bà cụ sống một mình. (I feel for the old woman living alone.)
Yêu thương (v): a common synonym with the same core meaning as "thương yêu," often used interchangeably.
- Gia đình tôi luôn yêu thương lẫn nhau. (My family always loves one another.)
Trân trọng (v): to treasure, to hold in high esteem; focuses more on deep respect and valuing.
- Anh ấy trân trọng tình bạn giữa họ. (He treasures the friendship between them.)
Synonyms
- Cherish: To hold something or someone as dear; to feel or show great affection and care for.
- Love dearly: To love with great intensity and fondness.
- Have deep affection for: To feel a strong liking and caring attachment.
Related Idioms
Thương yêu như thể chân tay: To love as dearly as one's own limbs; to love someone as an inseparable part of oneself.
- Anh em trong gia đình phải thương yêu nhau như thể chân tay. (Siblings in a family must love each other as dearly as their own limbs.)
Máu chảy ruột mềm: (lit. "When blood flows, the heart softens") An idiom expressing the natural, deep love and compassion between family members.
- Dù có giận nhau, nhưng máu chảy ruột mềm, họ vẫn thương yêu nhau. (Even if they are angry with each other, blood is thicker than water, they still love each other.)