Definition

1. Noun:

   • State or Form: The physical condition or phase in which matter exists (e.g., solid, liquid, gas).
   • Genre or Style: A category or form in literature, music, or art, characterized by a particular structure or technique.
   • Aspect (Linguistics): A grammatical category that expresses how an action, event, or state relates to the flow of time (e.g., completed or ongoing).

2. Verb (archaic/formal):

   • To be able to; can: Expresses capability or possibility.
   • To consider; to show regard for: To act out of consideration or respect for someone or something.
   • To forgive; to excuse: To pardon or make an allowance for a fault or mistake.

Usage Examples

• Noun (State):
  • Nước tồn tại ở thể lỏng. (Water exists in a liquid state.)
• Noun (Genre):
  • Thơ lục bát là một thể thơ truyền thống của Việt Nam. (The lục bát is a traditional poetic genre of Vietnam.)
• Noun (Aspect):
  • "Đã" thường được dùng để chỉ thể hoàn thành. ("Đã" is often used to indicate the perfective aspect.)
• Verb (To be able to):
  • Tôi không thể đến được. (I cannot come.)
• Verb (To consider):
  • Thể tình bạn cũ, tôi sẽ giúp anh lần này. (Out of regard for our old friendship, I will help you this time.)
• Verb (To forgive):
  • Xin mọi người thể thứ cho sự chậm trễ này. (Please forgive [excuse] this delay.)

Advanced Usage

• "được thể": Taking advantage of a favorable situation or opportunity.
  • Thấy tôi do dự, nó được thể nói thêm nhiều điều. (Seeing my hesitation, he took the opportunity to say many more things.)
• "thể theo": In accordance with; based on; following (a request, suggestion).
  • Thể theo đề nghị của bạn, chúng tôi đã thay đổi kế hoạch. (In accordance with your suggestion, we have changed the plan.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thể chất (n): Physical body; physique.
  • Rèn luyện để có một thể chất khỏe mạnh. (Train to have a healthy physique.)
• Thể thao (n): Sports.
  • Anh ấy rất yêu thích thể thao. (He is very fond of sports.)
• Thể hiện (v): To express; to manifest; to show.
  • Bài hát này thể hiện tình yêu quê hương. (This song expresses love for the homeland.)
• Thể tất (v): To forgive; to excuse (a more common, compound form of the verb "thể").
  • Xin hãy thể tất cho tôi. (Please excuse me.)

Synonyms

• State: condition, phase, form.
• Genre: form, style, category, type.
• Aspect: viewpoint, feature.
• To be able to: can.
• To consider: to have regard for, to take into account.
• To forgive: to excuse, to pardon.

Related Idioms

• Chẳng thơm cũng thể hoa nhài, chẳng lịch cũng thể con người vẻ vang: (Literally: It may not be fragrant, but it's still jasmine; she may not be refined, but she is still a glorious person.) Used to assert one's inherent worth or identity despite apparent flaws or lack of polish.

noun

1. state genre aspect