Definition

1. Noun:

   • Social relations / social interaction: The normal, conventional interactions and relationships between people in society, governed by established rules of politeness and civility.
   • Social etiquette / savoir-vivre: The set of customary rules and skills considered appropriate for polite social interaction.

2. Adjective:

   • Social / formal / polite: Describing an action or behavior that is done out of courtesy or politeness according to social conventions, often without deep personal feeling.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Anh ấy có quan hệ xã giao rất rộng. (He has very extensive social relations.)
  • Cô ấy hiểu biết nhiều về phép xã giao. (She knows a lot about social etiquette.)

• Adjective:

  • Đó chỉ là lời khen xã giao. (That was just a polite/complimentary remark.)
  • Chuyến thăm xã giao của nguyên thủ đã kết thúc tốt đẹp. (The head of state's courtesy visit ended well.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a distinction between genuine personal relationships and interactions that are obligatory, superficial, or purely formal.
  • Tình bạn thật sự khác hẳn với tình bạn xã giao. (True friendship is completely different from a social/polite friendship.)

Variants and Related Words

• Giao tiếp xã hội (n): social communication.

  • Kỹ năng giao tiếp xã hội rất quan trọng. (Social communication skills are very important.)

• Quan hệ xã hội (n): social relationships.

  • Mạng lưới quan hệ xã hội của cô ấy rất phong phú. (Her network of social relationships is very rich.)

Synonyms

• Etiquette: the customary code of polite behavior in society.
• Civility: formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech.
• Formality: the rigid observance of rules of convention or etiquette.

Related Idioms

• Xã giao bắt tay: A handshake of mere politeness; a superficial or formal interaction.

  • Họ chào nhau bằng một cái bắt tay xã giao. (They greeted each other with a polite handshake.)

• Nói chuyện xã giao: To make small talk; to engage in polite, conventional conversation.

  • Cả buổi tiệc chúng tôi chỉ nói chuyện xã giao. (We only made small talk the entire party.)

noun

1. savoir vivre, social relations