Word
Thưa bác sĩ, lưng tôi đau.
Meaning
Doctor, my back hurts.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Questions & Answers about Thưa bác sĩ, lưng tôi đau.
What does thưa mean here?
Thưa is a polite word used when addressing someone respectfully, especially in somewhat formal situations or when speaking to someone of higher status, older age, or professional authority.
In Thưa bác sĩ, it works a bit like:
- Excuse me, doctor
- Doctor,
- Respectfully, doctor
It does not carry the main meaning of the sentence. It sets the tone and shows politeness.
Why is bác sĩ placed right after thưa?
Because thưa + title/person is a common Vietnamese pattern for respectfully addressing someone.
So:
- Thưa bác sĩ = Doctor, ...
- Thưa cô = Teacher/Ma’am, ...
- Thưa ông = Sir, ...
In this sentence, bác sĩ is the person being addressed, not the subject of đau.
Does bác sĩ need a word like the or a before it?
No. Vietnamese does not use articles like the and a/an the way English does.
So bác sĩ can simply mean:
- doctor
- the doctor
- a doctor
The exact meaning depends on context. In Thưa bác sĩ, it clearly means you are speaking directly to the doctor.