Definition

1. Noun (Historical):
   • Library: An institution or room containing collections of books, manuscripts, and sometimes other materials for reading, study, or reference. The term "đồ thư quán" is an archaic Vietnamese word for this concept.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Nhà vua cho xây dựng một đồ thư quán lớn trong cung điện. (The king commissioned the construction of a large library in the palace.)
  • Đồ thư quán này lưu giữ nhiều sách cổ quý giá. (This library preserves many valuable ancient books.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily found in historical texts or when describing pre-modern institutions. In contemporary Vietnamese, the modern word "thư viện" is used exclusively.

Variants and Related Words

• Thư viện (n): The modern and standard Vietnamese word for "library".
  • Thư viện quốc gia (National library)
• Tàng thư các (n, archaic): Another historical term for an archive or library, often implying a collection of books.

Synonyms

• Library: A place where books and other literary materials are kept for use.
• Archive: A collection of historical documents or records.
• Bibliothèque (French): The source of the loanword, meaning library.

Notes on Usage

• Register: The word "đồ thư quán" is obsolete and carries a formal, literary, or historical register. It would sound archaic if used in everyday modern conversation.
• Etymology: The term is a Sino-Vietnamese compound word ("đồ" [charts/documents], "thư" [books/writings], "quán" [pavilion/hall]), literally meaning "a hall for documents and books".

1. (từ cũ) Library