Definition

1. Verb:
   • To shatter, to smash to pieces: To break something completely into many small fragments, often with great force.
   • To crush, to defeat utterly: To completely overcome and destroy an opponent, argument, plan, or force, leaving no effective resistance.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Quả bóng đập tan cửa kính. (The ball shattered the window glass.)
  • Quân đội đã đập tan âm mưu của kẻ thù. (The army crushed the enemy's plot.)
  • Bài báo đó đập tan mọi nghi ngờ. (That article dispelled all doubts.)

Advanced Usage

• "đập tan hy vọng": to dash/shatter hopes.
  • Tin xấu đã đập tan hy vọng của họ. (The bad news shattered their hopes.)
• "đập tan âm mưu": to foil/smash a plot.
  • Cảnh sát đập tan âm mưu khủng bố. (The police foiled the terrorist plot.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đập (verb): to hit, to strike, to smash. The core verb indicating a forceful impact.
• Tan (verb/adj): to dissolve, to disperse, to break apart. Describes the result of being scattered or broken up.
• Nát tan (adj/phrase): completely shattered, smashed to smithereens. Emphasizes the state of being utterly destroyed.

Synonyms

• Phá hủy: to destroy.
• Tiêu diệt: to annihilate, to eliminate.
• Đánh bại: to defeat (often used in competitive contexts like sports or battles).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a compound verb, 'đập tan' itself functions similarly to a phrasal verb. - Đập phá: to vandalize, to smash and destroy (often implies wanton destruction). - Bọn cướp đập phá cửa hàng. (The robbers vandalized the store.) - Tan nát: to be devastated, heartbroken, or physically shattered. - Cô ấy tan nát vì tin đó. (She was devastated by that news.)

Related Idioms

• "Đập tan tành": to smash into smithereens. An intensified form emphasizing total fragmentation.
  • Chiếc bình rơi xuống đất đập tan tành. (The vase fell to the ground and smashed into smithereens.)
• "Tan tác như chim vỡ tổ": to scatter in panic/disarray (like birds from a destroyed nest). Often used for groups being routed.
  • Bọn địch thua chạy tan tác như chim vỡ tổ. (The enemy fled in defeat, scattering in disarray.)

1. Shatter, defeat completely dispose of devastingly
   • Đập tan lý lẽ của đối phương
     To dispose devastingly of adverse arguments