Definition

1. Noun:

   • Raft: A flat, floating structure made by tying together logs, bamboo, or planks, used for transport or as a platform on water.
   • Floating mat: A mass of water plants (e.g., water spinach, water fern) growing together or deliberately arranged on a water surface.
   • Clique or faction: A small group of people united for a common purpose, often with negative connotations of exclusivity or intrigue.
   • Part or voice (Music): A distinct melodic line or harmony for a specific instrument or group of voices within a musical composition.

2. Adjective:

   • Chunky, squat, or wide: Describes something, typically a body or object, that is disproportionately wide or broad compared to its height.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Họ thả bè trôi sông. (They set the raft floating down the river.)
  • Trên mặt hồ có một bè rau muống xanh tốt. (There is a lush floating mat of water spinach on the lake.)
  • Hắn ta chỉ lo cho lợi ích của cái bè của hắn. (He only cares about the interests of his clique.)
  • Bản hợp xướng này được viết cho bốn bè. (This chorale is written for four parts.)

• Adjective:

  • Anh ấy có bàn tay bè và khỏe. (He has wide and strong hands.)
  • Cái bàn này trông hơi bè. (This table looks somewhat squat.)

Advanced Usage

• "bè bè" (reduplicated adjective): Emphasizes the quality of being very wide, broad, or squat.

  • Nó có khuôn mặt vuông bè bè. (He has a square, very broad face.)

• "nhà bè": A house built on a raft or floating on water; a boat house.

  • Ngư dân sống trong những nhà bè trên sông. (Fishermen live in boat houses on the river.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chống bè (v): To pole or punt a raft.

  • Họ chống bè dọc theo con kênh. (They poled the raft along the canal.)

• Kết bè (v): To form a clique; to gang up.

  • Bọn chúng kết bè với nhau để hù dọa mọi người. (They ganged up together to intimidate people.)

Synonyms

• Raft: float, craft.
• Clique: faction, gang, coterie.
• Part (music): voice, line.
• Wide: broad, squat, stocky.

Related Idioms

• Năm bè bảy phái: Literally "five cliques and seven parties"; describes a situation with many competing factions or groups.

  • Hội đồng đó rối ren vì năm bè bảy phái. (That council is chaotic with many competing factions.)

• Bè nào cũng có cọc (proverb): Literally "Every raft has its stakes"; implies every group or system has its key supporters or structural elements.

noun

1. Raft
   • thả bè trôi sông
     to float a raft on the river
   • chống bè
     to pole a raft, to punt a raft
   • nhà bè
     a boat house
2. Floating garden
   • bè bèo
     a floating garden of waterfern
3. Clique
   • năm bè bảy phái
     five cliques and seven parties
4. Part (in a musical composition for many instruments, voices...)

adj

1. Chunky, squat