Definition

1. Noun:

   • Painting, picture: A work of visual art created on a surface, using elements like lines and colors to depict a subject (e.g., a landscape, portrait).
   • Thatch: A sheet or panel made from dried grass (often cỏ tranh), reeds, or similar materials, used traditionally for roofing.

2. Verb:

   • To compete, to contend: To strive against others to gain or win something, such as a prize or victory.
   • To strive for, to vie for: To make an effort to obtain or achieve something before others can.
   • To dispute, to argue over: To engage in a struggle or quarrel over possession of something.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Painting):

  • Trên tường treo một bức tranh phong cảnh đẹp. (A beautiful landscape painting hangs on the wall.)
  • Cô ấy vẽ tranh bằng sơn dầu. (She paints pictures using oil paints.)

• Noun (Thatch):

  • Mái nhà lợp bằng tranh. (The roof is covered with thatch.)

• Verb (To compete):

  • Các vận động viên tranh giải vô địch. (The athletes compete for the championship.)
  • Những đứa trẻ tranh nhau đồ chơi. (The children fight over the toys.)

Advanced Usage

• "tranh giành": to struggle for, to scramble for (often implies a more intense or contentious competition).

  • Hai công ty lớn tranh giành thị phần. (The two large companies scramble for market share.)

• "tranh thủ": to make the most of, to seize (an opportunity), to utilize (time) efficiently.

  • Tôi tranh thủ thời gian nghỉ để đọc sách. (I make the most of my break time to read.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cỏ tranh (n): a type of grass (Imperata cylindrica) used for making thatch.
• Tranh luận (v): to debate, to argue (a point of view).
• Tranh đấu (v): to struggle, to fight (for a cause, like rights or freedom).
• Tranh ảnh (n): pictures, images (a general term for paintings and photographs).

Synonyms

• Noun (Painting): artwork, picture, illustration.
• Noun (Thatch): roofing, thatching.
• Verb (To compete): vie, contest, struggle.

Related Idioms

• Đẹp như tranh: As beautiful as a painting (used to describe a very beautiful scene or person).

  • Cảnh hoàng hôn ở đây đẹp như tranh. (The sunset here is as beautiful as a painting.)

• Tranh cãi chính trị: Political dispute/controversy (refers to a heated argument over political matters).

  • Vụ việc đó đã gây ra một tranh cãi chính trị lớn. (That incident sparked a major political controversy.)

noun

1. painting, picture thatch

verb

1. to compete, to fight for