Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Urgent, pressing: Describes a situation, task, or matter that requires immediate attention or action due to its critical nature or time sensitivity.
   • Forced to withdraw (military context): Describes a military force being compelled to retreat or withdraw, often under pressure.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Urgent):
  • Công việc này rất bức rút. (This work is very urgent.)
  • Chúng tôi đang xử lý một vấn đề bức rút. (We are handling a pressing issue.)
• Adjective (Forced withdrawal):
  • Sau trận đánh, quân địch bị bức rút khỏi thành phố. (After the battle, the enemy forces were forced to withdraw from the city.)

Advanced Usage

• "Tình thế bức rút": A pressing/urgent situation.
  • Đất nước đang ở trong tình thế bức rút. (The country is in a pressing situation.)
• Used to describe deadlines or time pressure in formal or high-stakes contexts (e.g., business, military, emergencies).

Variants and Related Words

• Bức thiết (adj): Urgent, imperative. Often used interchangeably with for "urgent," but can carry a stronger sense of necessity or compelling need.
• Khẩn cấp (adj): Emergency, critical. Emphasizes an immediate crisis requiring a swift response.
• Gấp rút (adj): Hurried, rushed. Focuses on the speed of action taken in response to urgency.

Synonyms

• Cấp bách: Pressing, critical.
• Khẩn trương: Urgent, requiring prompt action.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary and most common meaning in modern Vietnamese is "urgent" or "pressing."
• The military meaning ("forced to withdraw") is more specialized and historical. In contemporary usage, this sense is less common and may be considered archaic or very context-specific. The phrase is more commonly used to mean "was forced to retreat."

1. Urgent, pressing