Definition

1. Noun:
   • Amateur: A person who engages in an activity, such as acting, photography, or sports, for pleasure rather than as a paid profession. It often implies a non-professional or hobbyist level of skill.
   • Actor or Actress: A performer in plays, films, or television. This meaning is common in the context of cinema and theater.
   • (Archaic) Talented Person: Historically, a term referring to a man of considerable talent or ability, often in the arts or scholarship.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Amateur):

  • Anh ấy chỉ là một nhiếp ảnh gia tài tử. (He is just an amateur photographer.)
  • Làm việc kiểu tài tử thì không thể thành công. (Working in an amateur way cannot lead to success.)

• Noun (Actor/Actress):

  • Ngôi sao điện ảnh đó là một tài tử nổi tiếng. (That movie star is a famous actor.)
  • Cô ấy mơ ước trở thành tài tử. (She dreams of becoming an actress.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "lối tài tử" (an amateurish style) carries a negative connotation, criticizing a lack of seriousness, professionalism, or dedication in work or study.
  • Anh ta làm việc theo lối tài tử. (He works in a slapdash/unprofessional manner.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nghiệp dư (adj/n): Amateur. A more direct synonym for the non-professional aspect.

  • Một cầu thủ nghiệp dư (an amateur player)

• Diễn viên (n): Actor, actress. The standard, neutral term for a professional performer.

  • Diễn viên điện ảnh (film actor/actress)

Synonyms

• Amateur: Non-professional, hobbyist, dilettante.
• Actor/Performer: Thespian, player.
• Talented Person: Virtuoso, gifted individual (archaic sense).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Tài tử giai nhân: (Archaic) A phrase meaning "talented men and beautiful women," often used in classical literature to describe the ideal romantic pairing or elegant society.
  • Câu chuyện cổ tích kể về tài tử giai nhân. (The fairy tale is about a talented scholar and a beautiful woman.)

noun

1. amateur. actor, actress.
2. (cũ) talented men