Definition

1. Verb:

   • To stretch: To pull something tight so that it becomes straight or taut, such as a rope, cord, or fabric.
   • To spread: To extend something out fully, like a sail.
   • To strain: To exert or use something, like one's eyes or strength, to its utmost limit.

2. Adjective:

   • Tight: In a state of being stretched or pulled taut.
   • Tense: Characterized by mental or emotional strain; under pressure.
   • Intense: Describing a situation that is serious, demanding, or highly concentrated.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Người thợ căng tấm vải lên khung. (The artisan stretches the fabric onto the frame.)
  • Thuyền buồm căng buồm ra khơi. (The sailboat spreads its sails to go to sea.)
  • Cô ấy phải căng mắt ra để đọc chữ nhỏ. (She had to strain her eyes to read the small print.)

• Adjective:

  • Sợi dây này rất căng. (This rope is very tight.)
  • Bầu không khí trong phòng họp thật căng. (The atmosphere in the meeting room is very tense.)
  • Lịch làm việc tuần này quá căng. (This week's work schedule is too intense.)

Advanced Usage

• "căng thẳng": This is a common compound adjective meaning "tense" or "stressful," describing situations or states of mind.
  • Mối quan hệ giữa hai nước đang rất căng thẳng. (The relationship between the two countries is very tense.)

Variants and Related Words

• Căng cứng (adj): Stiffly tight, rigid.

  • Cơ bắp anh ấy căng cứng vì lạnh. (His muscles were stiffly tight from the cold.)

• Kéo căng (v): To pull taut, to stretch out.

  • Hãy kéo căng dây thừng ra. (Please pull the rope taut.)

Synonyms

• Verb: Stretch, extend, tighten.
• Adjective: Taut, tense, strained, intense, tight.

Related Idioms

• Căng như dây đàn: As tight as a guitar string; used to describe something extremely taut or a person who is very tense.

  • Sau tin đó, thần kinh anh ấy căng như dây đàn. (After that news, his nerves were as tight as a guitar string.)

• Căng da bụng, chùng da mắt: Literally "tight belly skin, loose eyelid skin"; meaning to be full (from eating) and then become drowsy.

  • Ăn no xong, căng da bụng chùng da mắt, ai cũng thấy buồn ngủ. (After eating our fill, with tight bellies and heavy eyelids, everyone felt sleepy.)

noun

1. Concentration camp

verb

1. To stretch, to spread, to strain
   • căng dây
     to stretch a cord
   • căng buồm
     to spread sail
   • căng buồm lên mà chạy
     to glide full sail
   • căng hết sức ra mà làm
     to be fully stretched
   • căng mắt quan sát trong bóng tối
     to strain one's eyes observing in the dark

adj

1. Tightly stretched, fully spread, taut, tense
   • căng như dây đàn