Definition

1. Verb:
   • To snap one's fingers: The primary meaning of "bấm tay" is to press a finger and thumb together and release them quickly to make a sharp clicking sound.
   • To count on one's fingers (less common): In a less frequent usage, it can refer to the act of counting by bending or pressing on the finger joints, similar to "bấm đốt".

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy bấm tay để gọi người phục vụ. (He snapped his fingers to call the waiter.)
  • Cô giáo bảo các em không nên bấm tay trong lớp. (The teacher told the children not to snap their fingers in class.)
  • (Less common) Bà ấy bấm tay để tính toán số tiền. (She counted on her fingers to calculate the amount of money.)

Advanced Usage

• "bấm tay" as a signal: Often used to get someone's attention or to mark the beat in music or dance.
  • Nhạc công vừa đánh đàn vừa bấm tay theo nhịp. (The musician played the guitar while snapping his fingers to the beat.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bấm đốt (tay) (verb): To count by bending/pressing finger joints. This is a more specific term for the counting action and is the direct reference for the less common meaning of "bấm tay".
• Ngón tay (noun): Finger.
• Kêu (verb): To make a sound. Can be combined descriptively (e.g., - to snap fingers making a sound).

Synonyms

• Vỗ tay (verb): To clap hands. (This is a different action but serves a similar function of creating sound for rhythm or attention.)
• Nháy (verb): To wink. (Used metaphorically for giving a quick signal, but not a direct synonym.)

Related Phrases

• Bấm tay gọi: To snap fingers to call someone.
  • Đừng bấm tay gọi người khác như thế, nó bất lịch sự. (Don't snap your fingers to call someone like that, it's impolite.)
• Bấm tay theo điệu nhạc: To snap fingers to the music.
  • Mọi người đều bấm tay theo điệu nhạc sôi động. (Everyone was snapping their fingers to the lively music.)

Related Idioms

• (Không có thành ngữ phổ biến trực tiếp sử dụng "bấm tay"): There are no widely used idioms directly incorporating "bấm tay". The action itself is often used descriptively in contexts of rhythm, impatience, or summoning.

1. (ít dùng) như bấm đốt