bợ
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To flatter, to fawn upon: The primary meaning of "bợ" is to praise someone excessively and insincerely, often to gain favor or advantage.
- (Dialectal) To lift or raise by supporting from underneath: In some regional dialects, "bợ" can mean to lift something up by supporting its base.
Usage Examples
- Verb (To flatter):
- Anh ta chỉ biết bợ đỡ sếp để được thăng chức. (He only knows how to flatter the boss to get a promotion.)
- Đừng có bợ nó nữa, nó không thích đâu. (Stop flattering him; he doesn't like it.)
- Verb (Dialectal: To lift):
- Bà ấy bợ thúng gạo lên đặt lên kệ. (She lifted the basket of rice up and placed it on the shelf.)
Advanced Usage
- "bợ đỡ": This is a common compound verb combining "bợ" and "đỡ," intensifying the meaning of sycophancy or fawning.
- Hắn ta chẳng có tài cán gì, chỉ giỏi bợ đỡ. (He has no real talent, he's only good at fawning.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nịnh bợ (verb): A synonym compound meaning to flatter or toady. This is more commonly used than "bợ" alone in modern Vietnamese.
- Thói nịnh bợ là điều đáng khinh. (The habit of flattery is despicable.)
- Bợm bợ (noun/verb, colloquial): Refers to a flatterer or the act of being a sycophant, often with a negative, mocking connotation.
Synonyms
- Nịnh (verb): to flatter, to adulate.
- Xu nịnh (verb): to fawn, to grovel (stronger, more formal negative connotation).
- Bợ đỡ (verb): to flatter and toady (as mentioned above).
Related Idioms
- "Bợ thầy, bợ cô": This phrase criticizes the act of excessively flattering teachers or superiors for personal gain.
- Học sinh đó chẳng học hành gì, chỉ lo bợ thầy bợ cô. (That student doesn't study, he only focuses on flattering the teachers.)
- "Khéo bợ": Skilled at flattery. Often used sarcastically.
- Nó khéo bợ quan trên lắm! (He's very skilled at flattering his superiors!)
verb
- to flatter
- bợ đỡ người nàoto flatter someone