xe

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Vehicle; Car: A general term for any wheeled conveyance used for transporting people or goods, from bicycles and motorcycles to cars, trucks, and buses.
   • Cart; Carriage: A simpler, often non-motorized vehicle, such as a handcart, oxcart, or horse-drawn carriage.
2. Noun (in compounds):
   • Classifier for Vehicles: Used as a classifier to count vehicles. (e.g., một xe ô tô - one car).
   • A Load: Refers to the contents or load carried by a vehicle. (e.g., một xe cát - a load/truckload of sand).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Tôi đi làm bằng xe máy. (I go to work by motorbike.)
  • Xe buýt dừng ở trạm. (The bus stopped at the station.)
  • Ngày xưa, người ta dùng xe ngựa. (In the past, people used horse-drawn carriages.)
• Noun (as classifier/load):
  • Có ba xe đậu trước nhà. (There are three vehicles parked in front of the house.)
  • Họ đổ một xe đất vào sân. (They dumped a truckload of soil in the yard.)

Advanced Usage

• "Lên xe xuống ngựa": Literally "to get on carriages and dismount horses". An idiom describing a life of luxury and privilege, or a person of high status.

  • Gia đình ấy sống trong cảnh lên xe xuống ngựa. (That family lives a life of luxury.)

• "Xe chỉ luồn kim": Literally "to thread a needle with spun thread". An idiom describing intricate, delicate work or a very subtle and clever plan.

Variants and Related Words

• Xe cộ (n): A collective noun for vehicles, traffic.

  • Đường phố đông đúc xe cộ. (The street is crowded with traffic.)

• Xe hơi / Ô tô (n): Car, automobile.

  • Anh ấy vừa mua xe hơi mới. (He just bought a new car.)

• Xe đạp (n): Bicycle.

  • Trẻ con học đi xe đạp. (Children learn to ride a bicycle.)

• Lái xe (v): To drive a vehicle.

  • Chị ấy lái xe rất cẩn thận. (She drives very carefully.)

Synonyms

• Vehicle: A general term for a means of transport.
• Automobile / Car: A passenger vehicle (for ).
• Cart: A simple vehicle for carrying loads.

Related Idioms

• Xe ngựa xem hoa: Literally "to view flowers from a horse carriage". To do something superficially, hastily, or without careful observation.

  • Chuyến đi chỉ là xe ngựa xem hoa, chưa khám phá được gì. (The trip was just a cursory glance; we didn't explore anything.)

• Xe đổ rồi mới đắp đường: Literally "to pave the road after the cart has overturned". Equivalent to "closing the stable door after the horse has bolted" – taking action too late, after the damage is done.