Definition

1. Verb:
   • To attack from behind, to outflank: A military tactic of attacking the enemy's rear or flank positions.
   • To cover the rear, to provide rear support: To protect or support from a position behind the main force.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Quân đội đã bọc hậu và bất ngờ tấn công địch. (The army outflanked and launched a surprise attack on the enemy.)
  • Đội đặc nhiệm có nhiệm vụ bọc hậu cho lực lượng chính. (The special forces team has the mission of covering the rear for the main force.)

Advanced Usage

• "Đánh bọc hậu": This is the most common collocation, specifically meaning "to execute a rear/flank attack".
  • Chiến thuật đánh bọc hậu đã giúp họ giành chiến thắng. (The tactic of attacking from the rear helped them achieve victory.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bọc: (Verb) To wrap, to encase. This is the root verb, with "bọc hậu" being a specific military compound.
• Đánh tập hậu: (Verb Phrase) A near-synonym meaning to attack the rear. It emphasizes the assault aspect more than the maneuvering aspect of "bọc hậu".

Synonyms

• Tấn công vào phía sau/sườn: To attack the rear/flank.
• Yểm trợ phía sau: To provide rear support/cover.

Related Phrases (Contextual Usage)

• Chiến thuật bọc hậu: Rear/flank attack tactics.
  • Vị tướng nổi tiếng với những chiến thuật bọc hậu tài tình. (The general is famous for his ingenious flanking tactics.)

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning (Military): The core meaning is military, describing a strategic maneuver.
• Extended/Figurative Use: In modern, non-military contexts (e.g., business, sports), it can be used metaphorically to describe an action that surprises an opponent by targeting a vulnerable or unexpected area.
  • Đối thủ cạnh tranh bọc hậu bằng một sản phẩm mới. (The competitor outflanked [us] with a new product.)

1. In the rear
   • Đánh bọc hậu
     To attack (the enemy) in the rear