Definition

1. Verb:
   • To force; to compel: To make someone do something against their will, often using authority, strength, or coercion.
   • To resist; to oppose: To act against or refuse to comply with a force, command, or desire. (This meaning is often used in the negative form "không cưỡng được" - cannot be resisted).

Usage Examples

• Verb (to force/compel):
  • Không ai có quyền cưỡng ép người khác làm điều trái ý. (No one has the right to force others to do something against their will.)
  • Anh ta bị cưỡng bức phải ký vào hợp đồng. (He was compelled to sign the contract.)
• Verb (to resist - often in negative form):
  • Cơn buồn ngủ ập đến, tôi không thể cưỡng lại. (Sleepiness overwhelmed me; I could not resist it.)
  • Mùi thơm của món ăn thật hấp dẫn, không cưỡng nổi. (The aroma of the food is so enticing, it's irresistible.)

Advanced Usage

• "Không cưỡng được" / "Không thể cưỡng lại": An idiom meaning "irresistible" or "cannot be resisted."
  • Sức hút của cô ấy thật khó cưỡng. (Her charm is hard to resist.)
• "Miễn cưỡng" (Adjective/Adverb): Reluctantly; unwillingly; done without enthusiasm.
  • Anh ấy miễn cưỡng đồng ý với đề nghị đó. (He reluctantly agreed to that proposal.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cưỡng bức (Verb): To coerce; to compel by force. A stronger and more specific term for forcing someone.
  • Hành vi cưỡng bức là phạm pháp. (The act of coercion is illegal.)
• Cưỡng đoạt (Verb): To seize by force; to usurp.
  • Kẻ xấu đã cưỡng đoạt tài sản của ông ta. (The villain seized his property by force.)
• Cưỡng chế (Verb): To enforce (a law, rule, or decision) by authority or compulsion.
  • Cảnh sát sẽ cưỡng chế thi hành lệnh. (The police will enforce the order.)

Synonyms

• Ép buộc / Bắt buộc (Verb): To oblige; to force.
• Chống lại / Kháng cự (Verb): To resist; to oppose. (For the second meaning).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Cưỡng lại: To resist; to oppose.
  • Cô ấy cố gắng cưỡng lại cám dỗ. (She tried to resist the temptation.)

Related Idioms

• "Cưỡi ngựa xem hoa": Literally "to ride a horse and look at flowers," meaning to do something superficially or in a rushed, inattentive manner. (Note: This idiom uses "cưỡi" [to ride], not "cưỡng," but is phonetically similar and commonly referenced.)
• "Cưỡng từ đoạt lý": To use sophistry or force to argue; to reason fallaciously or coercively.

verb

1. to force; to compel