Definition

1. Intransitive Verb:
   • To live in lodgings; to board: To reside temporarily in a place that is not one's own home, typically by renting a room, often with meals provided.
   • To stay as a lodger: To live temporarily in someone else's house, usually for a fee.

Usage Examples

• Intransitive Verb:
  • Sinh viên thường phải ở trọ gần trường đại học. (Students often have to live in lodgings near the university.)
  • Anh ấy ở trọ tại một gia đình ở nông thôn trong ba tháng. (He boarded with a family in the countryside for three months.)
  • Vì công việc xa nhà, tôi đang ở trọ ở thành phố. (Because my job is far from home, I am staying in lodgings in the city.)

Advanced Usage

• "ở trọ nhà ai": to board at someone's house; to lodge at someone's place.
  • Cô ấy ở trọ nhà dì trong suốt thời gian học cao học. (She boarded at her aunt's house throughout her graduate studies.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trọ (n): Lodgings; a boarding house. Often used as the object in the phrase "ở trọ".
  • Tìm được một chỗ trọ tốt ở Hà Nội không dễ. (Finding good lodgings in Hanoi is not easy.)
• Nhà trọ (n): Boarding house; lodging house.
  • Khu này có nhiều nhà trọ cho sinh viên. (This area has many boarding houses for students.)
• Chủ trọ (n): Landlord/landlady of a boarding house.
  • Chủ trọ của tôi rất tử tế. (My landlady is very kind.)

Synonyms

• Thuê phòng: To rent a room. (This emphasizes the rental contract more than the temporary, boarding aspect of "ở trọ").
• Ở nhờ: To stay with someone (often implies a more informal, non-commercial arrangement, possibly without payment).

Related Phrases

• Đi ở trọ: To go and live in lodgings. (This phrase highlights the action of moving to a lodging place.)
  • Sau khi tốt nghiệp cấp ba, nó sẽ đi ở trọ để học đại học. (After high school graduation, he will go and live in lodgings to attend university.)

Notes on Meaning

• The word "ở trọ" inherently implies a temporary or non-permanent living situation. It is distinct from "ở nhà" (to live at home) or "ở thuê" (to rent a whole house/apartment long-term).
• It often, but not always, involves a commercial transaction (paying rent) and can include services like meals ("ăn cơm tháng" – monthly meal plan).
• The core idea is residing in a place that is not one's own home, typically out of necessity (for study, work).

1. live in lodgings; board
   • ở trọ nhà ai
     to board at someone's house