Definition

1. Noun:

   • Hem, rim, edge: A reinforcing band, often made of bamboo, rattan, or cloth, attached to the edge of a woven item (like a basket or mat) or the waistband of trousers to prevent fraying and add strength.
   • Waistband (of trousers/skirt): Specifically refers to the band of fabric at the top of a pair of trousers or a skirt, often where a belt or drawstring is inserted.

2. Verb:

   • To hem, to rim, to edge: The action of attaching a reinforcing band to the edge of something.
   • To embank, to reinforce with earth: The action of adding soil or earth to strengthen a structure like a dike, road, or pond bank.
   • To gnaw, to nibble: (Less common) To bite or chew on something persistently, taking small bites.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Cạp rổ bằng tre rất chắc. (The bamboo rim on the basket is very sturdy.)
  • Cạp quần này bị rộng. (This trouser waistband is too loose.)
  • Chiếu mới có cạp màu đỏ. (The new mat has a red hem.)

• Verb:

  • Bà ấy đang cạp lại cái thúng cũ. (She is putting a new rim on the old basket.)
  • Người dân cùng nhau cạp bờ ao. (The villagers worked together to embank the pond.)
  • Con chuột cạp vào góc tủ. (The mouse gnawed at the corner of the cabinet.)

Advanced Usage

• "cạp đất": to bank up with soil, to reinforce with earth.

  • Phải cạp đất cho chân đê thêm vững. (We must bank up the soil to make the dike base more solid.)

• "đường cạp": a newly banked-up road.

  • Sau trận mưa, đường cạp vẫn không bị sụt. (After the rain, the newly banked road did not collapse.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nẹp (n): A strip, binding, or edge banding (similar in function to but often made of different materials and used on different items like clothing or books).
• Viền (n/v): To border, to edge; a border or trim (more general than , often decorative).
• Đai (n): A belt, band, or hoop (a broader term that can include the function of a ).

Synonyms

• Noun (Hem/Rim): Vành (rim, especially of a wheel or round object), mép (edge, but not necessarily reinforced).
• Verb (To hem): Viền (to border, to edge).
• Verb (To embank): Đắp (to mound up, to build up), bồi (to silt up, to fill in).
• Verb (To gnaw): Gặm (to gnaw), nhấm (to nibble).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Cạp vào: (Literally: to gnaw/chew into) Can imply persistent, bothersome action.
  • Lo lắng cạp vào tâm trí anh ta. (Worry gnawed at his mind.)

Related Idioms

• Cạp đất mà ăn: (Literally: to gnaw on dirt to eat) An idiom expressing extreme poverty and hardship.
  • Thời đói kém, nhiều người tưởng phải cạp đất mà ăn. (During the famine, many people thought they would have to gnaw on dirt to survive.)

noun

1. Hem, rim, edge
   • cạp rổ
     the rim on a basket
   • cạp quần
     the upper hem of a pair of trousers, the belt of a pair of trousers

verb

1. To hem, to rim, to embank
   • cạp lại cái rá
     to put a new rim on a basket
   • cạp bờ ao
     to embank a pond
2. To gnaw into