thầy cãi
[tʰəj˨˩ kaːj˦ˀ˥]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(noun) lawyer (professional person authorized to practice law)
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Nghe đâu chú ấy học nghề thầy cãi.It appears he's studying to become a lawyer.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(noun) lawyer (a legal layman who argues points of law)
Register: informal
Sense 3
Meaning · English
(noun) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see thầy, cãi.
Register: informal
Common questions
What does “thầy cãi” mean?
(noun) lawyer (professional person authorized to practice law)
Is “thầy cãi” formal or informal?
thầy cãi is generally informal.