Definition

1. Noun:

   • Sea; Ocean: An archaic or literary term for a large body of salt water, synonymous with "biển."
   • Tank; Basin; Reservoir: A large, often man-made container or structure for holding a liquid, such as water or fuel.

2. Verb (colloquial):

   • To break; To shatter: To cause something to separate suddenly into pieces, typically as a result of a fall or impact. It is a common, informal synonym for "vỡ."
   • To fail; To collapse (figurative): Used to describe a plan, business, or situation that is ruined or falls apart completely.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Lòng mẹ bao la như bể. (A mother's heart is as vast as the sea.)
  • Nhà mới xây có bể nước ngầm rất lớn. (The newly built house has a very large underground water tank.)
  • Xe bồn chở đầy xăng vào bể chứa. (The tanker truck delivers gasoline into the storage tank.)

• Verb:

  • Đứa bé làm rơi bể cái ly. (The child dropped and broke the glass.)
  • Kế hoạch kinh doanh đó bể tan rồi. (That business plan has completely collapsed.)

Advanced Usage

• "bể chứa": Storage tank/reservoir. A more specific term for a containment vessel.

  • Bể chứa nước của thành phố đã đầy. (The city's water reservoir is full.)

• "bể cá": Fish tank; aquarium.

  • Nó đang cho cá trong bể ăn. (He is feeding the fish in the tank.)

Variants and Related Words

• Biển (n): The standard, modern word for "sea" or "ocean."
• Vỡ (v): The standard verb for "to break" or "to shatter."
• Bồn (n): Often used for a smaller tank, basin, or tub (e.g., bồn tắm - bathtub, bồn hoa - flower bed).

Synonyms

• Noun: Sea, ocean, tank, basin, reservoir.
• Verb: Break, shatter, smash, fracture, fail, collapse.

Related Idioms and Expressions

• Bể sâu sóng cả: Literally "deep sea, big waves." Figuratively means great difficulties or turbulent times in life.
  • Đời người có lúc bể sâu sóng cả. (Life has times of great turbulence.)
• Bể Sở sông Ngô: An idiom meaning "everywhere" or "all regions," referencing ancient Chinese states.
  • Tiếng tăm của ông ấy vang dội bể Sở sông Ngô. (His fame is known far and wide.)
• Lòng bể: Literally "the heart of the sea." Can mean the deep sea or, figuratively, a profound and mysterious depth (of emotion, knowledge, etc.).

noun

1. như biển
2. Tank
   • bể xăng
     a petrol tank
   • bể nước ăn
     a drinking water tank
   • bể chìm
     an underground tank
   • bể nổi
     an overground tank

verb

1. To break
   • cái bát rơi bể
     the bowl fell and broke