thằng

Một thằng bé đang chơi đá bóng trong công viên.

Definition

1. Classifier / Noun:

   • A male person (often informal, familiar, or derogatory): A word placed before a noun to refer to a male individual. Its connotation ranges from neutral/familiar to contemptuous, depending on context. It often implies the person is of lower status, younger, or is being spoken of in a casual, dismissive, or insulting manner.
   • Guy, dude, fellow (neutral/familiar): Used colloquially among peers or when referring to someone in a general, informal way.
   • That/this (contemptible) guy, that/this bastard (derogatory): Used to express disdain, anger, or strong disapproval toward a male person.

2. Classifier (grammatical function):

   • Male person classifier: Functions as a numeral classifier for counting male humans in informal speech, similar to "con" for animals and certain objects.

Usage Examples

• Neutral/Familiar:

  • Thằng bạn tôi sẽ đến. (My friend [male] will come.)
  • Có mấy thằng đang đứng ngoài cổng. (There are a few guys standing outside the gate.)

• Derogatory/Contemptuous:

  • Thằng ăn cắp đó lại xuất hiện rồi. (That thief [that bastard] has appeared again.)
  • Đừng tin lời thằng ấy. (Don't believe that guy's words [implies untrustworthiness].)

• Referring to younger male relatives (familiar, not necessarily derogatory):

  • Thằng con tôi năm nay học lớp 5. (My son is in 5th grade this year.)
  • Thằng em nó rất nghịch. (His younger brother is very mischievous.)

Advanced Usage

• Used for personification: Sometimes used to personify objects, countries, or concepts in a masculine, often belittling way.
  • Thằng Mỹ (The US - implying a masculine, often adversarial entity).
  • Thằng máy tính này hỏng rồi. (This damn computer is broken.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thằng cha (n): That guy, that fellow (often with a negative or exasperated tone).

  • Thằng cha đó thật là phiền phức. (That guy is really troublesome.)

• Thằng bé (n): The boy, the little boy (can be neutral or affectionate).

  • Thằng bé đang chơi trong vườn. (The little boy is playing in the garden.)

• Thằng bạn thân (n): A close male friend.

  • Nó là thằng bạn thân nhất của tôi. (He is my closest [male] friend.)

Synonyms

• Guy, dude, fellow: Informal terms for a man.
• Boy: A male child or youth.
• Bastard, jerk: Derogatory terms for a despicable man (context-dependent equivalent).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Thằng hèn / Thằng nhát cáy: A coward.

  • Đừng có làm thằng hèn! (Don't be a coward!)

• Thằng mất dạy: A rude, ill-mannered person (lit. "one who has lost upbringing").

  • Đồ thằng mất dạy! (You ill-mannered brat!)

• Chết thằng nào, thằng ấy chịu: Every man for himself; you reap what you sow (lit. "Whoever dies, that person bears it").

  • Trong cuộc đua này, chết thằng nào, thằng ấy chịu. (In this race, it's every man for himself.)