Definition

1. Verb:
   • To be burdened with, to carry a burden: "đèo bồng" describes the state of having to carry or bear a heavy responsibility, duty, or hardship. It often implies a sense of being weighed down by an obligation or a difficult situation.
   • To be saddled with: It can also mean to be encumbered with something troublesome or a dependent person, suggesting an additional load that makes movement or progress difficult.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy phải đèo bồng gánh nặng gia đình một mình. (He has to be burdened with the family's weight alone.)
  • Công ty đang đèo bồng một món nợ lớn. (The company is burdened with a large debt.)
  • "Lâm-tri chút nghĩa đèo bồng, nước non để chữ tương phùng kiếp sau." (From "The Tale of Kiều": Carrying the burden of a small debt of gratitude from Lam Tri, the promise of reunion is left for a future life.)

Advanced Usage

• Used in classical/literary contexts: The word "đèo bồng" is often found in classical Vietnamese poetry and literature, as seen in Nguyễn Du's "Truyện Kiều." In modern usage, it retains a somewhat formal or literary tone.
• Implies a persistent burden: The term often conveys that the burden is not momentary but is carried over a period of time, affecting one's journey or life path.

Variants and Related Words

• Đèo bòng: This is a variant spelling of "đèo bồng" with the same meaning. It is used interchangeably, though "đèo bồng" is more common in modern standardized Vietnamese.
  • Cuộc sống đèo bòng nhiều lo toan. (Life is burdened with many worries.)

Synonyms

• Gánh vác: to shoulder, to undertake (a responsibility). This is more active and voluntary.
• Mang vác: to carry, to bear (a physical or metaphorical load).
• Chịu đựng: to endure, to suffer (a hardship).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: As a verb, "đèo bồng" itself is not typically part of phrasal verb constructions in Vietnamese. Its meaning is contained within the single term.)

Related Idioms

• Đèo bồng con cái: To be burdened with raising children (emphasizing the responsibility).
  • Sau ly hôn, chị ấy một mình đèo bồng con cái. (After the divorce, she alone is burdened with raising the children.)
• Đèo bồng món nợ: To be saddled with a debt.
  • Do đầu tư thất bại, ông ta đang đèo bồng món nợ khổng lồ. (Due to a failed investment, he is saddled with a huge debt.)

verb

1. to be burdened with