Definition of illiterate

illiterateadjective

mù chữ

/ɪˈlɪtərət//ɪˈlɪtərət/

The word "illiterate" derives from Latin, where it was "illiteratus" which was formed by combining "in" (meaning "not") and "littera" (meaning "letter" or "character"). In the context of learning, Latin used "literatura" to describe the literary works of antiquity that were being studied at the time. Over time, the sense of "literate" transferred from being familiar with these literary works to being able to read and write coherently. The opposite of a "literatus" (someone who could read and write) was an "illiteratus," which eventually became our modern word "illiterate." The Latin roots of "illiterate" are still apparent in modern English, where the prefix "il" (meaning "not") denotes a lack or absence of the following root, and the suffix "-ate" (meaning "having the quality of") denotes a particular quality, in this case, a lack of literacy.

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not knowing how to read or write

không biết đọc và viết

Example:
  • A large percentage of the rural population was illiterate.

    Một tỷ lệ lớn dân cư nông thôn mù chữ.

Extra examples:
  • Being illiterate, my grandfather signed the document with an ‘X’.

    Vì không biết chữ nên ông nội tôi đã ký vào văn bản bằng chữ ‘X’.

  • In a mainly illiterate society, traditions were passed down orally.

    Trong một xã hội chủ yếu là mù chữ, các truyền thống được truyền lại bằng miệng.

  • Ordinary members of the clergy were largely illiterate.

    Các thành viên bình thường của giới tăng lữ phần lớn không biết chữ.

Related words and phrases

badly written, as if by somebody without much education

viết dở, như thể do ai đó không có học vấn nhiều

Example:
  • Many of the application forms we received were virtually illiterate.

    Nhiều mẫu đơn đăng ký mà chúng tôi nhận được hầu như không có chữ viết.

  • That morning I received a somewhat illiterate letter from my client.

    Sáng hôm đó tôi nhận được một lá thư có phần mù chữ từ khách hàng của mình.

not knowing very much about a particular subject area

không biết nhiều về một lĩnh vực chủ đề cụ thể

Example:
  • computer illiterate

    Máy tính mù chữ

  • musically illiterate

    mù chữ về âm nhạc

  • The population was politically illiterate and easily manipulated.

    Dân chúng mù chữ về mặt chính trị và dễ bị thao túng.

Idioms

have/want none of something
to refuse to accept something
  • I offered to pay but he was having none of it.
  • They pretended to be enthusiastic about my work but then suddenly decided they wanted none of it.
  • none but
    (literary)only
  • None but he knew the truth.
  • none the less
    despite this fact
    none other than
    used to emphasize who or what somebody/something is, when this is surprising
  • Her first customer was none other than Mrs Obama.