Definition

1. Verb:
   • To strike up a conversation: To initiate or start a conversation, often with someone you do not know well or at all. It implies taking the first step to begin talking.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy rất thân thiện và thích bắt chuyện với khách du lịch. (He is very friendly and likes to strike up a conversation with tourists.)
  • Cô ấy ngại bắt chuyện với người lạ. (She is shy about striking up a conversation with strangers.)
  • Tôi không biết làm thế nào để bắt chuyện với anh ấy. (I don't know how to strike up a conversation with him.)

Advanced Usage

• The action of often carries a nuance of being proactive, sociable, or sometimes strategic in initiating social contact.
  • Nhân viên bán hàng khéo léo bắt chuyện để tư vấn cho khách. (The salesperson skillfully strikes up a conversation to advise customers.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bắt chuyện làm quen: To strike up a conversation to get acquainted.
  • Cậu bé bắt chuyện làm quen với bạn mới trong lớp. (The boy struck up a conversation to get acquainted with a new classmate.)

Synonyms

• To initiate a conversation: To begin a dialogue.
• To start a conversation: To commence talking with someone.
• To engage someone in conversation: To involve someone in talk.

Related Idioms

• Bắt chuyện trên trời dưới biển: To strike up a conversation about all sorts of things (literally: about the sky and the sea); to make small talk on various topics.
  • Ông cụ dễ tính, cứ gặp là bắt chuyện trên trời dưới biển. (The old man is easygoing; whenever he meets someone, he strikes up a conversation about all sorts of things.)

verb

1. To strike up a conversation
   • con người cởi mở và dễ bắt chuyện
     an open-hearted person who easily strikes up a conversation