Definition

1. Intransitive Verb:
   • To hover (of a bird or insect): To remain in one place in the air by moving the wings rapidly.
   • To glide, to soar (of a bird or aircraft): To fly smoothly and effortlessly through the air, often without flapping wings or using minimal engine power.

Usage Examples

• Intransitive Verb:
  • Chim ưng đang bay lượn trên bầu trời tìm kiếm con mồi. (The falcon is soaring in the sky, searching for prey.)
  • Máy bay lượn (tàu lượn) bay lượn một cách êm ái nhờ những luồng khí nóng. (The glider glides smoothly using thermal currents.)
  • Con chim ruồi có khả năng bay lượn tại chỗ rất đặc biệt. (The hummingbird has a special ability to hover in place.)

Advanced Usage

• "bay lượn trên": to hover/soar over something.
  • Diều hâu bay lượn trên cánh đồng. (The hawk soars over the field.)
• Used to describe graceful, effortless, or circular flight patterns, often for searching, observing, or displaying.
  • Những cánh én bay lượn trước cơn mưa. (The swallows swoop and glide before the rain.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bay (v): to fly. A more general term for flight.
• Lượn (v): to glide, to soar, to circle. Can be used separately but often paired with "bay" for emphasis.
• Lượn lờ (v): to hover around, to linger (can be used for people or objects moving slowly).
• Sà xuống (v): to swoop down. Often follows "bay lượn".

Synonyms

• Lơ lửng: to float, to hover (often implies being suspended in air or liquid without specific flying motion).
• Chao liệng: to wheel, to bank, to swoop (implies more dynamic, turning flight).

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Bay lượn tự do: to fly/soar freely.
  • Đại bàng bay lượn tự do trên núi cao. (The eagle soars freely over the high mountains.)
• Bay lượn vờn quanh: to flutter/hover around.
  • Những chú bướm bay lượn vờn quanh những bông hoa. (Butterflies flutter around the flowers.)

Related Idioms

• Thảnh thơi như chim bay lượn: As carefree as a gliding bird. (Describes a state of complete freedom and lack of worry.)
  • Sau khi nghỉ hưu, ông ấy sống thảnh thơi như chim bay lượn. (After retirement, he lives as carefree as a gliding bird.)

1. hover (of a bird); glide (of an aeroplane)