Definition

1. Verb:
   • To steer: To control the direction of a moving vehicle, especially a car, motorcycle, or boat, by turning the steering wheel or handlebars.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy bẻ lái sang phải để tránh ổ gà. (He steered to the right to avoid the pothole.)
  • Lái xe trong thành phố đông đúc đòi hỏi phải bẻ lái linh hoạt. (Driving in a crowded city requires flexible steering.)
  • Khi gặp chướng ngại vật, tài xế phải bẻ lái gấp. (When encountering an obstacle, the driver had to steer sharply.)

Advanced Usage

• "bẻ lái ngoặt" / "bẻ lái gắt": To steer sharply; to make a sharp turn.
  • Chiếc xe bẻ lái ngoặt để rẽ vào con hẻm. (The car steered sharply to turn into the alley.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lái (verb): To drive (a vehicle). This is a more general term for operating a vehicle.
  • Anh ấy lái xe rất cẩn thận. (He drives very carefully.)
• Đánh lái (verb): A synonym, also meaning to steer. It is often used interchangeably with "bẻ lái".
  • Phải đánh lái từ từ khi vào cua. (You must steer slowly when taking a curve.)

Synonyms

• Đánh lái: To steer.
• Quay vô lăng: To turn the steering wheel (more literal).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Bẻ lái tránh: To steer to avoid (something).
  • Tài xế buýt đã bẻ lái tránh một người đi bộ. (The bus driver steered to avoid a pedestrian.)

Related Idioms

• Bẻ lái theo chiều gió: (Literally: To steer according to the wind) To adapt one's actions or opinions to suit the prevailing circumstances, often implying a lack of principle.
  • Ông ta là chính trị gia hay bẻ lái theo chiều gió. (He is a politician who often steers according to the wind / changes his stance opportunistically.)

khẩu ngữ

1. To steer