Definition

1. Noun:
   • Corn, maize: The seed-bearing part of a corn plant, consisting of a central core with rows of kernels; also refers to the plant itself or its kernels as food.
   • Muscle: A bundle of fibrous tissue in a body that has the ability to contract, producing movement; often refers to a visibly prominent, rounded muscle.
   • Shuttle-shaped object: An object that is spindle-shaped, being thicker in the middle and tapering at both ends.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Corn/Maize):
  • Tôi thích ăn bắp luộc. (I like to eat boiled corn.)
  • Cánh đồng bắp rất rộng. (The cornfield is very vast.)
• Noun (Muscle):
  • Anh ấy có bắp tay rất to. (He has very large arm muscles.)
  • Cô ấy bị đau ở bắp chân. (She has pain in her calf muscle.)
• Noun (Shuttle-shaped object):
  • Bắp chuối có màu tím rất đẹp. (The banana inflorescence is a beautiful purple color.)

Advanced Usage

• "bắp thịt": Literally "meat muscle"; refers specifically to muscle tissue.
  • Tập thể dục giúp phát triển bắp thịt. (Exercising helps develop muscle tissue.)
• "ngô bắp": A compound term emphasizing the corn plant or its ear.
  • Vùng này trồng nhiều ngô bắp. (This region grows a lot of corn.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bắp chân (n): Calf (the muscular back part of the lower leg).
• Bắp tay (n): Biceps/upper arm muscle.
• Bắp chuối (n): Banana inflorescence or blossom (due to its spindle shape).
• Bắp cải (n): Cabbage (etymologically distinct, but a common compound word).
• Bắp rang (n): Popcorn.

Synonyms

• Ngô (n): Corn, maize (more common in Northern Vietnam; synonymous with the plant/food meaning of "bắp").
• Cơ bắp (n): Muscles (more formal term for muscle tissue).
• BẮP (in uppercase) is also a common brand name for a corn snack.

Related Phrases

• "nổi bắp": To have prominent, bulging muscles.
  • Vận động viên thể hình có cánh tay nổi bắp. (The bodybuilder has arms with bulging muscles.)
• "tiêm bắp": To give an intramuscular injection.
  • Bác sĩ chỉ định tiêm bắp cho bệnh nhân. (The doctor prescribed an intramuscular injection for the patient.)

Notes on Usage

• The meaning is highly dependent on context. "Ăn bắp" means "to eat corn," while "bắp tay" means "arm muscle."
• In Southern Vietnam, "bắp" is the common word for corn/maize, whereas "ngô" is more common in the North. For the muscle meaning, "bắp" is used nationwide.
• When referring to the spindle shape, it is almost always used in compound nouns like "bắp chuối."

noun

1. Maize, Indian corn
2. Muscle
   • cánh tay nổi bắp
     An arm full of muscles, a muscular arm
   • tiêm bắp
     to give an intramuscular injection
3. Something shuttle-shaped
   • bắp chuối
     (shuttle-shaped) banana inflorescence