Definition

1. Classifier / Noun:
   • A person (derogatory or familiar): Used before a noun or alone to refer to a person, often implying a lower social position, contempt, or familiarity. It is commonly used for children, subordinates, or people one looks down upon.
   • A child / kid: A neutral term for a child when used with words like "con" (offspring), but can carry a familiar or slightly dismissive tone.

Usage Examples

• Classifier / Noun:
  • Đứa con đó rất ngoan. (That child is very well-behaved.)
  • Đừng tin đứa đó. (Don't trust that person/that individual.)
  • Đến chơi cháu, nhưng chả đứa nào ở nhà. (He went to see his grandchildren, but none of them was in.)
  • Đứa kẻ cắp đã bị bắt. (The pickpocket has been caught.)

Advanced Usage

• Used absolutely (without a following noun) to refer contemptuously or familiarly to a person already understood from context.
  • Đứa này hư quá! (This [kid/person] is so naughty!)
• Can be used in plural forms like "những đứa" (those individuals/kids) or "mấy đứa" (a few kids/people).

Variants and Related Words

• Đứa bé (n): A young child, baby. Often neutral or affectionate.
  • Đứa bé đang ngủ. (The baby is sleeping.)
• Đứa trẻ (n): A child. Slightly more formal than "đứa bé."
  • Bảo vệ những đứa trẻ. (Protect the children.)

Synonyms

• Child / Kid: A young person.
• Individual / Person: A human being, often with a neutral or negative connotation.
• Brat: A poorly behaved child (strongly derogatory).

Related Idioms

• Đứa dại, đứa khôn: (Literal: the foolish one, the wise one) Refers to the varying characters or fortunes of different children/people.
  • Trong nhà có đứa dại, đứa khôn. (In a family, some children are foolish, some are wise.)

1. (used in front of nouns or absolutely to indicate a person of lowwer position or derogatively)
   • Đứa con
     A child
   • Đứa kẻ cắp
     A pickpocket
   • Đến chơi cháu, nhưng chả đứa nào ở nhà
     he went to see his grandchildren, but none of them was in