Definition

1. Noun:

   • Position, situation, posture: The overall arrangement of conditions or circumstances that create an advantage or disadvantage. Often refers to a strategic stance in contexts like chess, battle, or life.
   • Power, authority, influence: Social or positional power that one can wield or rely on.
   • The world, life (archaic/literary): Refers to worldly affairs or human life.

2. Verb:

   • To substitute, to replace: To put one thing in the place of another that is missing or needed.
   • To pawn, to mortgage: To give an item as collateral for a loan.

3. Pronoun/Demonstrative:

   • Like that, such, so, thus: Used to refer to something already mentioned, known, or immediately apparent. It points to a manner, degree, or specific situation.
   • Then, in that case: Used to introduce a consequence or a follow-up question based on a preceding situation.

4. Particle/Interjection:

   • Used for emphasis or exclamation: Placed at the end of exclamatory sentences to express surprise, admiration, or strong feeling about a high degree of something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Thế cờ này rất phức tạp. (This chess position is very complex.)
  • Hắn cậy thế cha mình để bắt nạt người khác. (He relies on his father's influence to bully others.)

• Verb:

  • Tôi không có tiền mặt, tôi thế chiếc đồng hồ này được không? (I don't have cash, can I pawn this watch?)
  • Nếu không có chanh, bạn có thể thế bằng giấm. (If there's no lemon, you can substitute it with vinegar.)

• Pronoun/Demonstrative:

  • Cứ làm thế đi. (Just do it like that.)
  • "Tôi mệt." — "Thế bạn nghỉ ngơi đi." ("I'm tired." — "Then you should rest.")

• Particle:

  • Cô ấy hát hay thế! (She sings so well!)
  • Sao mà đắt thế! (Why is it so expensive!)

Advanced Usage

• "Thế à?" / "Thế ạ?": A common conversational phrase meaning "Is that so?" or "Really?" used to express mild surprise or acknowledgment.

  • "Hôm nay nó nghỉ học." — "Thế à?" ("He's absent from school today." — "Is that so?")

• "Thế thì...": Means "In that case, then..." Used to state a conclusion or decision based on prior information.

  • "Xe hỏng rồi." — "Thế thì chúng ta đi taxi." ("The car is broken." — "In that case, let's take a taxi.")

• "Đến thế là cùng": An idiom meaning "That's the limit" or "That's as far as it goes," indicating an extreme degree.

  • Giỏi đến thế là cùng! (That's unbelievably good!)

Variants and Related Words

• Thế gian (n): The mortal world, earthly life.
• Thế lực (n): Force, power, faction.
• Thế hệ (n): Generation.
• Thế kỷ (n): Century.
• Thế chấp (v): To mortgage (property, typically real estate).
• Thay thế (v): To replace, to substitute.

Synonyms

• Noun (Position): Tư thế (posture), tình thế (situation), hoàn cảnh (circumstances).
• Noun (Power): Quyền thế (authority), ảnh hưởng (influence).
• Verb (Substitute): Thay, thay thế.
• Pronoun: Như vậy, như thế (like that).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Cậy thế: To rely on one's power or influence (often with a negative connotation).
  • Đừng cậy thế mà ỷ lại. (Don't rely on your influence and become dependent.)
• Thế sự: Worldly affairs.
  • Ông ấy am hiểu thế sự. (He has a deep understanding of worldly affairs.)
• Mất thế: To be at a disadvantage, to lose one's advantageous position.
  • Đội nhà đang mất thế trên sân. (The home team is losing its advantage on the field.)

noun

1. position disposition, posture power, authoritative like that, such, so

verb

1. to replace, to substitute to mortgage