Definition

1. Verb:
   • To stand up, to raise one's head: The primary meaning is to physically lift one's head or to rise from a bent or lowered position. It often implies a movement from a state of being down, hidden, or submissive to one of being upright and visible.
   • To emerge, to rise up (figuratively): Used metaphorically to describe a person, group, or nation gaining strength, confidence, or independence after a period of difficulty or oppression.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy cất đầu nhìn lên bầu trời. (He raised his head to look at the sky.)
  • Sau nhiều năm bị áp bức, người dân cuối cùng đã cất đầu. (After many years of oppression, the people finally stood up/rose up.)
  • Đứa trẻ cất đầu khỏi gối. (The child lifted its head from the pillow.)

Advanced Usage

• "cất đầu lên": This is the most common and complete form, emphasizing the upward motion. It can be used both literally and figuratively.
  • Hãy cất đầu lên và tự tin vào bản thân. (Lift your head up and be confident in yourself.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngẩng đầu: (verb) To raise one's head. This is a close synonym, often used interchangeably in the literal sense, but "ngẩng đầu" is less commonly used in the strong figurative sense of rising up against oppression.

  • Cô ấy ngẩng đầu nhìn tôi. (She raised her head to look at me.)

• Đứng dậy: (verb) To stand up (from a sitting or lying position). This refers to the action of getting up onto one's feet, whereas "cất đầu" focuses specifically on the head or the figurative act of emergence.

Synonyms

• Ngước đầu: To look up, to tilt one's head back (often to look at something above).
• Vùng dậy: To rise up, to revolt (carries a stronger connotation of rebellion or sudden uprising).

Related Idioms

• Cất đầu cất cổ: (idiom) To struggle to get ahead, to strive to improve one's social or economic status, often against difficulties.
  • Họ phải cất đầu cất cổ để nuôi sống gia đình. (They have to struggle hard to feed their family.)

1. Stand up