Definition

1. Noun:

   • Hygiene: The science and practice of maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness. This is the primary, abstract meaning.
   • Sanitation: The conditions and systems relating to public health, especially the safe disposal of sewage and waste.

2. Adjective:

   • Sanitary / Hygienic: Clean and conducive to maintaining health. Often used in a limited context, sometimes with a negative modifier (e.g., 'thiếu vệ sinh' - unsanitary).

3. Verb:

   • To use the toilet / To relieve oneself: A euphemistic term for defecating or urinating. Used in specific fixed phrases.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Giữ vệ sinh cá nhân là rất quan trọng. (Maintaining personal hygiene is very important.)
  • Thành phố cần cải thiện hệ thống vệ sinh. (The city needs to improve its sanitation system.)

• Adjective:

  • Nhà bếp này trông rất vệ sinh. (This kitchen looks very hygienic.)
  • Nguồn nước ở đây không được vệ sinh. (The water source here is not sanitary.)

• Verb:

  • Cháu bé đang cần đi vệ sinh. (The child needs to go to the toilet.)

Advanced Usage

• "vệ sinh công cộng": public hygiene/sanitation.

  • Vệ sinh công cộng kém có thể dẫn đến dịch bệnh. (Poor public sanitation can lead to epidemics.)

• "vệ sinh lao động": occupational/industrial hygiene.

  • Công ty phải tuân thủ các quy định về vệ sinh lao động. (The company must comply with occupational hygiene regulations.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vệ sinh viên (n): sanitation worker, cleaner.

  • Các vệ sinh viên thu gom rác mỗi sáng. (Sanitation workers collect garbage every morning.)

• Dọn vệ sinh (v): to clean, to tidy up.

  • Chúng tôi dọn vệ sinh phòng học. (We cleaned the classroom.)

• Nhà vệ sinh (n): toilet, restroom.

  • Nhà vệ sinh ở cuối hành lang. (The toilet is at the end of the hallway.)

Synonyms

• Hygiene: the practice of cleanliness for health.
• Sanitation: public health conditions related to clean water and waste disposal.
• Cleanliness: the state of being clean.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Ăn ở hợp vệ sinh: to live and eat in a hygienic manner.

  • Cửa hàng này được chứng nhận ăn ở hợp vệ sinh. (This shop is certified for hygienic food handling and premises.)

• Giấy vệ sinh (n): toilet paper.

  • Hãy mua thêm giấy vệ sinh. (Please buy more toilet paper.)

• Thiết bị vệ sinh (n): sanitary ware/plumbing fixtures (e.g., toilet, sink).

  • Cửa hàng này bán các thiết bị vệ sinh cao cấp. (This store sells high-end sanitary ware.)

noun

1. hygiene