Definition

1. Verb:
   • To plait, to braid, to twist: To interweave three or more strands of a flexible material (such as rope, hair, straw) to form a single, stronger, or decorative structure.
   • To entangle, to cling to: To become or cause to become twisted or wrapped around something else; to stick closely and persistently to someone (often used figuratively for emotional attachment).

Usage Examples

• Verb (To plait/braid):
  • Cô ấy bện tóc thành một bím tóc dày. (She plaited her hair into a thick braid.)
  • Người thợ bện những sợi dây thừng rất chắc chắn. (The craftsman twisted the rope strands very securely.)
• Verb (To entangle/cling):
  • Sợi chỉ bện vào nhau, rất khó gỡ. (The threads became entangled with each other, making them hard to separate.)
  • Đứa trẻ bện lấy mẹ, không chịu rời nửa bước. (The child clung to its mother, refusing to leave her side for a moment.)

Advanced Usage

• "bện chặt": to be tightly intertwined or deeply attached.
  • Số phận của họ đã bện chặt với nhau. (Their fates are tightly intertwined.)
• "bện vào nhau": to be interwoven/entwined with each other.
  • Những ký ức đẹp bện vào nhau tạo nên quá khứ. (Beautiful memories interweave to form the past.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sự bện (noun): The act of plaiting or the state of being plaited/entangled.
• Bím (noun): A braid or plait (the result of ).
• Kết (verb): To tie, to knot, to weave (a broader term).
• Tết (verb): To braid, specifically for hair (a near synonym for when referring to hair).

Synonyms

• Tết (verb): To braid (often specific to hair).
• Đan (verb): To weave, to knit (often with a more structured, criss-cross pattern).
• Quấn (verb): To wind, to coil (focuses on the wrapping action).
• Vấn (verb): To twist, to wrap around.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Bện lại: To plait/twist together again; to re-braid.
  • Cô bé bện lại tóc cho gọn gàng. (The little girl re-braided her hair to make it neat.)
• Bện vào: To become entangled in; to cling onto.
  • Cỏ dại bện vào nan hoa xe đạp. (Weeds became entangled in the bicycle spokes.)

Related Idioms

• Bện như sam: To cling/stick like a barnacle (describing someone who is very attached and won't let go).
  • Đứa bé theo mẹ bện như sam. (The child follows its mother, clinging like a barnacle.)
• Bện lời thề ước: To intertwine vows/promises (a poetic expression for making deep, connected promises).
  • Họ bện lời thề ước dưới ánh trăng. (They intertwined their vows under the moonlight.)

verb

1. To plait
   • bện thừng
     to plait cord
   • tóc bện đuôi sam
     hair plaited into a pigtail
2. To entangle
   • bánh xe bện rơm
     a wheel entangled with straw