Definitions

1. Verb:
   • To gather or collect small amounts bit by bit, often with difficulty or over a long period: "cóp nhóp" describes the action of accumulating something, typically money or small items, little by little through saving or collecting.
   • To scrape together: It implies a painstaking effort to assemble a small sum or quantity from various minor sources.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy cóp nhóp từng đồng để mua một chiếc xe đạp mới. (She scraped together every dong to buy a new bicycle.)
  • Anh ta cóp nhóp đủ tiền để đi du lịch sau nhiều năm tiết kiệm. (He managed to scrape together enough money to travel after years of saving.)
  • Họ cóp nhóp từng mảnh thông tin để hoàn thành báo cáo. (They gathered bits and pieces of information to complete the report.)

Advanced Usage

• "cóp nhóp từng li từng tí": to save or collect every tiny bit.
  • Bà cụ cóp nhóp từng li từng tí để giúp đỡ các cháu. (The old lady saved every tiny bit to help her grandchildren.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cóp (verb): Often used informally to mean "to copy" (e.g., cheating on a test). Note: This is a distinct, common meaning but is not the primary sense in the compound "cóp nhóp".
• Nhóp nhép (onomatopoeic/adjective): Describes a squishing or chewing sound, or something soft and mushy. This is unrelated in meaning but shares a similar phonetic pattern.

Synonyms

• Tích cóp (verb): To accumulate, to save up. This is a very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "cóp nhóp".
• Dành dụm (verb): To save up, to put aside (usually money).
• Gom góp (verb): To gather, to collect (often from various sources).

Notes on Meaning

• Nuance: "Cóp nhóp" strongly emphasizes the small scale of each individual contribution and the prolonged, often frugal effort involved. It often carries a connotation of hardship or meticulousness.
• Common Contexts: It is most frequently used in the context of saving money, but can also apply to collecting information, resources, or small objects.