Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To begin to sing: To start singing a song or a vocal melody.
   • To raise one's voice: To start speaking or to increase the volume of one's voice, often to be heard or to express emotion.

Usage Examples

• To begin to sing:

  • Sau một hồi im lặng, cô ấy cất giọng hát một bài dân ca. (After a moment of silence, she began to sing a folk song.)
  • Nghệ sĩ cất giọng và cả khán phòng lắng nghe. (The performer began to sing and the entire hall listened.)

• To raise one's voice:

  • Người diễn giả cất giọng để vượt qua tiếng ồn. (The speaker raised his voice to overcome the noise.)
  • Anh ấy cất giọng phản đối quyết định đó. (He raised his voice to protest that decision.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often implies a deliberate or noticeable start to vocalization, transitioning from silence or background noise. It can carry a poetic or formal nuance.

Variants and Related Words

• Cất lời (verb phrase): To begin to speak or to utter words, often used in formal or lyrical contexts.
  • Cô ấy cất lời chào mọi người. (She began to greet everyone.)

Synonyms

• To start singing: To commence singing.
• To lift one's voice: To raise the volume or pitch of one's voice.

Related Idioms

• While "cất giọng" itself is a set phrase, it is commonly used in expressions like:
  • Cất giọng hát: To lift one's voice in song.

    • Cô ấy cất giọng hát bài ca chiến thắng. (She lifted her voice in song with the victory anthem.)

1. Begin to sing, begin a song; raise one's voice