trả công
Definition
- Verb:
- To pay wages / to remunerate: To give money to someone in exchange for work or a service they have performed.
- To repay / to reward: To give something (money, a favor) in return for a benefit or help received.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Công ty phải trả công cho nhân viên đúng hạn. (The company must pay its employees on time.)
- Tôi không biết trả công anh ấy thế nào cho sự giúp đỡ to lớn đó. (I don't know how to repay him for that great help.)
- Anh ấy trả công tôi bằng một bữa ăn ngon. (He rewarded me with a delicious meal.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often implies a formal or transactional exchange for labor or a specific service, distinguishing it from a simple gift or tip.
- It can be used in both monetary and non-monetary contexts (e.g., repaying with a favor or a kind deed).
Variants and Related Words
Trả lương (v): To pay a salary or regular wages.
- Bộ phận kế toán trả lương vào ngày mùng 5 hàng tháng. (The accounting department pays salaries on the 5th of every month.)
Trả thù lao (v): To pay a fee or remuneration for a specific task or professional service.
- Chúng tôi sẽ trả thù lao xứng đáng cho các chuyên gia tư vấn. (We will pay appropriate fees to the consulting experts.)
Synonyms
- Pay: To give money for work, goods, or services.
- Remunerate: To pay someone for service rendered.
- Compensate: To give someone money or something else of value in exchange for something.
- Reward: To give something to someone in recognition of their service, effort, or achievement.
Related Idioms
- Ăn cây nào rào cây ấy / Ăn của ai trả công cho người đó: A proverb meaning "to be loyal to one's benefactor" or "to serve the interests of the person who pays you." It implies a direct relationship between receiving a benefit and owing service or loyalty in return.
- Anh ta làm việc rất trung thành, đúng là ăn cây nào rào cây ấy. (He works very loyally; it's true that he serves whoever feeds him.)