Definition

Verb: - To sound a horn; to honk; to hoot: The action of pressing or squeezing a vehicle's horn (còi) to produce a sound, typically as a signal or warning.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Tài xế bóp còi để cảnh báo người đi bộ. (The driver honked the horn to warn the pedestrian.)
  • Không được bóp còi trong khu vực bệnh viện. (You must not sound your horn in the hospital area.)
  • Xe tải bóp còi inh ỏi khi vượt. (The truck hooted loudly when overtaking.)

Advanced Usage

• "bóp còi inh ỏi / liên tục": To honk loudly / continuously.
  • Anh ta bóp còi inh ỏi vì tức giận. (He honked the horn loudly out of anger.)
• "bóp còi báo hiệu": To honk as a signal.
  • Xe cứu thương bóp còi báo hiệu để mọi người nhường đường. (The ambulance sounded its siren to signal people to give way.)

Variants and Related Words

• Còi (n): Horn, whistle, siren.
  • Tiếng còi (The sound of a horn).
• Bấm còi (v): A less common variant with the same meaning as 'bóp còi', literally "to press the horn".

Synonyms

• Honk (the horn): To cause a car horn to make a short, loud sound.
• Sound (the horn): To cause a horn to produce a sound.
• Toot (the horn): To make a short, sharp sound with a horn.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a specific verb phrase, 'bóp còi' itself functions like a phrasal verb. - Bóp còi xin đường: To honk to request right of way. - Xe sau bóp còi xin đường để vượt. (The vehicle behind honked to request permission to pass.)

Related Idioms

• "Nhanh như còi báo động": As fast as a warning siren (implying something happens very quickly or urgently).
  • Anh ấy chạy nhanh như còi báo động. (He ran as fast as a warning siren.)
• "Câm như hến / tượng": (To be) as silent as a clam/statue.
  • Cả phòng họp câm như hến. (The whole meeting room was silent as a clam.)

verb

1. To hoot; to sound