tàu bể
Definition
- Noun:
- Steamship, steamer: A large, engine-powered ship designed for ocean travel or transport. This term specifically refers to vessels propelled by steam engines, historically common for transoceanic routes.
- Ocean liner, ship: More broadly, it can refer to any large seafaring vessel.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông ấy đi du lịch châu Âu bằng tàu bể. (He traveled to Europe by steamship.)
- Tàu bể chở hàng hóa cập cảng Sài Gòn. (The steamer carrying goods docked at Saigon port.)
- Trước đây, tàu bể là phương tiện vận tải chính trên biển. (In the past, steamships were the main means of transport on the sea.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "tàu bể" is somewhat archaic and evokes a historical context, often associated with the era of steam-powered ocean travel. In modern contexts, more generic terms like "tàu biển" (sea vessel) are more common.
Variants and Related Words
Tàu biển (n): Sea vessel, ship. The more contemporary and general term for any large ship that sails on the sea.
- Tàu biển hiện đại rất an toàn. (Modern sea vessels are very safe.)
Tàu thủy (n): Watercraft, ship. A general term for any boat or ship.
- Tàu thủy bao gồm cả tàu sông và tàu biển. (Watercraft includes both riverboats and seagoing ships.)
Synonyms
- Steamship: A ship propelled by steam engines.
- Ocean liner: A large passenger ship designed for transoceanic travel.
- Ship: A large vessel for traveling on water.
Notes on Usage
- "Tàu bể" is a compound noun formed from "tàu" (ship, boat) and the archaic word "bể" (sea, ocean). In modern Vietnamese, "biển" is the standard word for "sea." Therefore, the term itself carries a historical or literary nuance.