ẹp
Definition
- Verb:
- To deflate, to flatten: "ẹp" describes the action of something collapsing, losing its firm shape, or becoming flat, often due to pressure, impact, or loss of internal support. It implies a state of being crushed or compressed.
- To be defeated, to fail utterly: In a figurative sense, "ẹp" can describe a plan, hope, or person being completely defeated or collapsing.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Quả bóng bị thủng nên đã ẹp hẳn. (The ball was punctured so it deflated completely.)
- Chiếc hộp giấy bị vật nặng đè cho ẹp. (The cardboard box was crushed flat by a heavy object.)
- Kế hoạch của họ đã ẹp từ khi mới bắt đầu. (Their plan fell flat from the very beginning.)
Advanced Usage
- "nằm ẹp": to lie flat (often after collapsing).
- Cây cột bị đổ nằm ẹp trên mặt đường. (The pillar fell and lay flat on the road.)
- "ẹp lép": completely flat or deflated (reduplicative form for emphasis).
- Lốp xe ẹp lép vì hết hơi. (The tire is completely flat because it's out of air.)
Variants and Related Words
- Bẹp (adj/verb): Very similar in meaning to "ẹp," often used interchangeably to mean flattened or crushed.
- Cái lon bị bẹp. (The can was crushed.)
- Xẹp (verb): To deflate, to go down (often used for swelling or inflated objects).
- Vết sưng đã xẹp. (The swelling has gone down.)
Synonyms
- Xì hơi: to deflate (specifically by losing air).
- Đổ sập: to collapse, to fall down.
- Tan vỡ: to be shattered, to fall apart (figurative).
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Làm ẹp: to deflate/flatten something (causative).
- Đứa trẻ làm ẹp quả bóng. (The child deflated the ball.)
Related Idioms
- "ẹp như bánh tráng": (as flat as a rice paper) - used to describe something very flat.
- Chiếc mũ bị kẹt dưới vali, ẹp như bánh tráng. (The hat got stuck under the suitcase, flat as a pancake.)
- "thua ẹp": to be soundly defeated.
- Đội khách thua ẹp với tỉ số 5-0. (The visiting team was soundly defeated with a score of 5-0.)
verb
-
to deflate, to flatten
