Definition

1. Verb:

   • To chop; to split; to cleave: To strike something forcefully with a tool like an axe, hoe, or knife, typically to split it open along its length.
   • To cut into segments: To slice a fruit (especially round fruits like melons) into wedges or sections.
   • To plunge; to dive; to rush headlong: To move or fall downward suddenly and with force. Also, to rush or charge at something suddenly.
   • To apportion; to assign: To divide and assign a share, especially a cost, tax, or responsibility to individuals.
   • To appoint; to assign (to a position): For an authority to assign someone to a job or post.

2. Adjective:

   • Nutritious; tonic; restorative: Describing food or medicine that strengthens the body, improves health, or boosts energy.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to chop/split):
  • Anh ấy bổ củi ở sau vườn. (He is splitting firewood in the backyard.)
  • Cô ấy bổ quả dưa hấu ra làm tám. (She cut the watermelon into eight segments.)
• Verb (to plunge/rush):
  • Con chim ưng bổ xuống con mồi. (The eagle dove down on its prey.)
  • Nghe tin, anh ấy bổ đi ngay. (Upon hearing the news, he rushed off immediately.)
• Verb (to apportion/appoint):
  • Hội sẽ bổ mỗi người một phần chi phí. (The association will apportion a share of the cost to each person.)
  • Ông ấy mới được bổ làm giám đốc. (He was just appointed as director.)
• Adjective (nutritious):
  • Canh gà là món rất bổ. (Chicken soup is a very nutritious dish.)
  • Bác sĩ kê cho tôi một loại thuốc bổ. (The doctor prescribed me a tonic.)

Advanced Usage

• "bổ vào": To assign (blame, responsibility, a cost) to someone, often unexpectedly or unfairly.
  • Công việc thất bại, họ lại bổ lỗi vào tôi. (The project failed, and they pinned the blame on me.)
• "bổ ngửa / bổ sấp": To fall flat on one's back / to fall flat on one's face. Used literally for falling or figuratively for being very surprised.
  • Trượt chân, anh ta ngã bổ ngửa. (He slipped and fell flat on his back.)
  • Tin đó làm tôi bổ ngửa. (That news made me fall over backwards [in surprise].)

Variants and Related Words

• Bổ nhào (v): To nosedive; to plunge (often for aircraft or birds).
  • Máy bay bổ nhào xuống biển. (The plane nosedived into the sea.)
• Bổ sung (v): To supplement; to add to. (Note: This is a compound word where "bổ" carries the meaning of "adding to improve or complete").
  • Tôi cần bổ sung thêm vitamin. (I need to supplement more vitamins.)

Synonyms

• Chop / Split: chặt, chẻ.
• Plunge / Dive: lao, nhào.
• Nutritious: bổ dưỡng, có chất bổ.
• Appoint: bổ nhiệm, chỉ định.

Related Idioms

• Đau đầu như búa bổ: To have a splitting headache (lit. "head hurts as if being chopped by an axe").
  • Tối qua tôi đau đầu như búa bổ. (I had a splitting headache last night.)
• Chạy bổ sấp bổ ngửa: To run helter-skelter; to run frantically in a great rush.
  • Họ chạy bổ sấp bổ ngửa đi tìm bác sĩ. (They ran helter-skelter to find a doctor.)

verb

1. To strike blows (bằng dao, búa, cuốc...), to cleave, to split
   • bổ từng nhát cuốc chắc nịch
     to strike strong blows with a hoe
   • bổ củi
     to split firewood
   • đau đầu như búa bổ
     one's head is splitting, to have a splitting headache
2. To cut into segments (quả cây)
   • bổ quả dưa
     to cut a water-melon into segments
3. To rush headlong, to plunge headlong
   • máy bay nhào lên bổ xuống
     the plane zoomed up and plunged down headlong
   • bất thình lình nhảy bổ vào địch thủ
     to rush headlong all of a sudden into one's opponent
4. To apportion