giáo phái
[zaːw˧˦ faːj˧˦]
The English word "cult" is translated into Vietnamese as giáo phái.
giáo phái is used to mean a sect or a cult. While it can be used neutrally to describe a religious sect, in many contexts it carries a connotation of a small, potentially fringe or deviant group.
Meaning: sect (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of the element phái, which refers to a sect, faction or group.
Which one should you use?
giáo phái is often used to describe a specific sect or cult, whereas tôn giáo is the broader, more neutral term for "religion".
Did you know?
- The word giáo in giáo phái shares the same root as the word for 'teacher' or 'educator', highlighting that the core of a 'cult' or 'sect' is the act of teaching a specific doctrine.
- If you use the word đạo instead of giáo phái, you are shifting from a term that sounds like a formal organizational structure to a word that implies a spiritual way of life or a 'path'.
- While giáo phái is the formal term for a religious sect, if you want to talk about a group's faction or a political clique, you would use the much more informal word phe.
Examples in context
- Giáo phái đó rất nguy hiểm.That cult is very dangerous.
- Anh ta tham gia một giáo phái lạ.He joined a strange cult.
- Cảnh sát đang điều tra giáo phái này.The police are investigating this cult.
Example conversation
Lan and Tuấn are discussing a news report about a mysterious group.
- LanBạn có nghe về giáo phái mới đó không?Did you hear about that new cult?
- TuấnCó, tôi thấy tin tức trên tivi rồi.Yes, I saw the news on TV.
- LanHọ thật sự rất đáng sợ.They are truly scary.
- TuấnĐúng vậy, mọi người cần phải cẩn thận.That's right, people need to be careful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cult” translations and entries giáo phái, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
