Definition

Noun: 1. A lever; a pole, a bar: A long, sturdy piece of wood, bamboo, or metal used for lifting, carrying, supporting, or prying. 2. A blow, a strike; a punishment: A physical hit or strike, often as a form of punishment or attack. 3. (Figurative) A damaging move, a severe setback: A powerful and direct action intended to harm or defeat an opponent in a conflict, competition, or strategic situation.

Usage Examples

• As a lever/pole:
  • Họ dùng một cây đòn gỗ để bẩy tảng đá. (They used a wooden lever to pry the rock.)
  • Chiếc quan tài được khiêng bằng một cỗ đòn. (The coffin was carried on a bier [a frame with poles].)
• As a blow/punishment:
  • Đứa trẻ hư bị mẹ cho một đòn. (The naughty child got a spanking from his mother.)
  • Võ sĩ đó đã hạ gục đối thủ chỉ bằng một đòn đấm. (That boxer knocked out his opponent with just one punch.)
• As a figurative setback:
  • Công ty đối thủ giáng một đòn mạnh vào thị trường của chúng ta. (The rival company dealt a heavy blow to our market.)
  • Đó là một đòn chí mạng vào danh tiếng của ông ta. (It was a fatal blow to his reputation.)

Advanced Usage

• "ăn đòn": to receive a beating; to suffer a defeat or setback.
  • Đội bóng đó đã ăn đòn thảm hại. (That football team suffered a crushing defeat.)
• "ra đòn": to strike; to make a move (in fighting or strategy).
  • Anh ta ra đòn rất nhanh và chính xác. (He strikes very quickly and accurately.)
• "đỡ đòn": to parry/block a blow; to cope with or withstand an attack or difficulty.
  • Chính phủ đang tìm cách đỡ đòn từ cuộc khủng hoảng kinh tế. (The government is looking for ways to cushion the blow from the economic crisis.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đòn bẩy (noun): Lever (in both literal and figurative senses, e.g., leverage).
  • Sử dụng đòn bẩy tài chính. (Using financial leverage.)
• Đòn cân (noun): The beam/bar of a scale.
• Đòn đánh (noun): A strike, an attack (often strategic).
• Đòn phép (noun): A (magical or skillful) strike/move (common in martial arts contexts).
• Đòn tay (noun): Rafter (in architecture).

Synonyms

• For lever/pole: , , (beam).
• For blow/strike: , (colloquial for a hit), (a beating).
• For setback: , , (failure), (loss).

Related Idioms

• "Dữ như đòn": (Literally: fierce like a blow) Used to describe someone who is very fierce or severe when punishing or fighting.
• "Đòn chí tử": A fatal/mortal blow.
• "Đòn xóc hai đầu": A double-ended strike; a situation or action that causes harm to two parties simultaneously.
• "Treo đầu dê, bán thịt chó" / "Đánh trống bỏ dùi": These are different idioms but sometimes confused with the concept of a deceptive "đòn" or move. "Đòn" here implies a trick or deceptive tactic.

noun

1. Lever