Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Straightforward; upright; honest: Describes a person's character as being direct, honest, and morally upright.
   • Direct; straight: Describes something that is linear or without deviation.

2. Verb:

   • To be on duty; to be on watch; to stand watch: The primary meaning refers to taking one's turn to be present and responsible, often in a professional, medical, or security context.
   • To keep vigil; to watch over: To stay awake and attentive, especially to care for someone, such as a sick person.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy là người tính rất trực. (He is a very straightforward/honest person.)
• Verb:
  • Y tá sẽ trực cả đêm. (The nurse will be on duty all night.)
  • Tôi phải trực ở bệnh viện vào Chủ nhật. (I have to be on duty at the hospital on Sunday.)
  • Anh ấy trực bên giường bệnh của mẹ. (He kept vigil by his mother's sickbed.)

Advanced Usage

• "trực tiếp": direct; directly; live (as in broadcasting). This is a separate, common compound word.

  • Chúng tôi theo dõi trận đấu qua truyền hình trực tiếp. (We watched the match via live television.)

• "trực giác": intuition. This is a separate, common compound word.

  • Cô ấy hành động theo trực giác. (She acted on intuition.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trực nhật (v): to be on duty for daily chores (often used in schools or offices). This is a shortened form of "trực" in this specific context.

  • Hôm nay, lớp tôi có ba bạn trực nhật. (Today, three students from my class are on cleaning duty.)

• Trực ban (v/n): to be the officer on duty; the duty officer.

  • Đại úy Nam đang trực ban. (Captain Nam is the officer on duty.)

Synonyms

• Adjective: Honest, upright, direct.
• Verb: To man a post, to stand guard, to attend.

Related Idioms

• Ăn ngay nói trực: To be frank and straightforward in both action and speech; to be upright and honest.
  • Mọi người quý anh ấy vì tính ăn ngay nói trực. (People respect him for his frank and honest nature.)

verb

1. to be on duty