Definition

1. Verb:
   • To obey, to comply with: "vâng lời" means to listen to and follow the instructions, advice, or commands of someone, typically a person in a position of authority or respect, such as parents, teachers, or elders.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Con cái nên vâng lời cha mẹ. (Children should obey their parents.)
  • Học sinh vâng lời thầy cô giáo. (Students obey their teachers.)
  • Anh ấy luôn vâng lời người lớn. (He always obeys his elders.)

Advanced Usage

• "Vâng lời một cách mù quáng": to obey blindly or unquestioningly.

  • Không nên vâng lời một cách mù quáng mà cần có sự suy xét. (One should not obey blindly but needs to consider carefully.)

• "Vâng lời dạy bảo": to heed/obey teachings or instructions.

  • Nó là một đứa trẻ ngoan, biết vâng lời dạy bảo. (He is a good child who knows how to heed teachings.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vâng theo (verb): to obey, to follow (often used interchangeably with "vâng lời" but can be slightly more formal).

  • Tôi sẽ vâng theo chỉ thị của cấp trên. (I will follow my superior's orders.)

• Nghe lời (verb): to listen to someone's words/advice (similar in meaning but can imply a softer, more voluntary compliance).

  • Nó rất nghe lời bà ngoại. (He listens very well to his grandmother.)

Synonyms

• Tuân theo: to follow, to comply with (often used for rules, laws, or formal orders).
• Phục tùng: to submit to, to be submissive to (implies a stronger sense of submission to authority).

Related Phrases

• "Vâng lời là bổn phận": Obedience is a duty.

  • Đối với con cái, vâng lời là bổn phận. (For children, obedience is a duty.)

• "Biết vâng lời": to be obedient.

  • Một đứa trẻ biết vâng lời thường được khen ngợi. (A child who is obedient is often praised.)

Related Idioms

• "Vâng lời như củ khoai": (Literally: to obey like a potato) An idiom describing someone who is very obedient, compliant, and does not talk back.
  • Thằng bé ấy ở nhà vâng lời như củ khoai. (That boy is as obedient as can be at home.)

verb

1. to obey, to comply with