cai

Thân thiện

Một người cai đang chỉ huy một nhóm lính trong doanh trại.

Definition

1. Noun (Historical/Archaic):

   • Foreman, Overseer: A person in charge of supervising workers, especially in a prison, construction site, or similar setting in the feudal or colonial era.
   • Corporal: A low-ranking non-commissioned officer in the old (feudal or colonial) army.
   • Chief (of a canton): A shortened form of "cai tổng," referring to the chief administrator of a canton (a historical administrative division).

2. Verb:

   • To give up, to quit, to wean off: To stop using a habitual and often addictive substance, such as a drug, alcohol, or tobacco. It implies a deliberate act of cessation.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ông cai tù rất nghiêm khắc. (The prison warder was very strict.)
  • Cai lính chỉ huy một nhóm nhỏ. (The corporal commanded a small group.)
• Verb:
  • Anh ấy quyết tâm cai thuốc lá. (He is determined to quit smoking.)
  • Bác sĩ khuyên bệnh nhân cai rượu. (The doctor advised the patient to give up alcohol.)
  • Đến lúc cai sữa cho em bé. (It's time to wean the baby.)

Advanced Usage

• The noun forms (foreman, corporal) are primarily historical. In modern contexts, other words like "giám thị" (supervisor/warden), "hạ sĩ" (corporal), or "quản đốc" (foreman) are more commonly used.
• The verb "cai" is almost exclusively used in the context of breaking an addiction or a deep-seated habit. It is not used for quitting a regular activity like a job or a hobby.

Variants and Related Words

• Cai tổng (n): Chief of a canton (historical administrative title).
• Cai thầu (n): (Historical) Head contractor or foreman.
• Cai trị (v): To rule, to govern (a different word, but sometimes confused due to similarity).

Synonyms

• Verb: To quit, to stop, to abstain from, to break a habit, to wean off.
• Noun (Overseer): Warder, guard, supervisor.
• Noun (Corporal): Non-commissioned officer (NCO).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Cai nghiện: To undergo detoxification, to be rehabilitated from addiction.
  • Trung tâm cai nghiện ma túy. (A drug rehabilitation center.)
• Cai sữa: To wean (a baby or young animal from mother's milk).

Học thuật

noun

1. Corporal
2. Foreman
3. Jailkeeper, warder

verb

1. To give up
   • cai thuốc phiện
     to give up opium smoking
   • cai rượu
     to give up drinking