Definition

Verb: * To land, to arrive at a shore or dock: Refers to a watercraft reaching and stopping at a landing point, such as a wharf, pier, or bank. * To draw alongside, to come alongside: Refers to a smaller vessel approaching and positioning itself next to a larger ship or another fixed point.

Usage Examples

• To land:
  • Sau ba ngày lênh đênh, con thuyền cuối cùng đã cập bến an toàn. (After three days adrift, the boat finally landed safely at the port.)
  • Phà sẽ cập cảng lúc 5 giờ chiều. (The ferry will dock at the port at 5 p.m.)
• To draw alongside:
  • Tàu tuần tra đã cập mạn tàu chở hàng để kiểm tra. (The patrol boat drew alongside the cargo ship for inspection.)
  • Xuồng cứu hộ nhanh chóng cập vào mạn tàu để đón những người bị nạn. (The rescue boat quickly pulled up alongside the ship to pick up the victims.)

Advanced Usage

• "cập bờ": To reach the shore, to make landfall.
  • Những người tị nạn đã cập bờ sau một hành trình gian nan. (The refugees reached the shore after a arduous journey.)
• Used metaphorically to mean "to arrive at" or "to reach" a destination or state, often after a long process.
  • Sau nhiều năm nghiên cứu, dự án của họ cuối cùng đã cập đích. (After many years of research, their project finally reached its destination.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cặp (verb): While "cặp" can mean to pair or couple, in nautical contexts, it is a near-synonym for "cập" meaning to dock or berth, though "cập" is more specific to the action of arriving and making contact.
  • Tàu cặp bến. (The ship berthed.)
• Tiếp cận (verb): To approach, to access. This is a broader term for approaching anything (an idea, a place, a person) and is not specific to maritime contexts.
  • Chúng tôi đang tìm cách tiếp cận vấn đề. (We are finding a way to approach the problem.)

Synonyms

• Vào bờ: To come ashore.
• Thả neo: To drop anchor (implies stopping, not necessarily at a dock).
• Áp sát: To close in on, to press close to (general, not specifically maritime).

Related Phrases

• Cập nhật (Compound Verb - listed separately as a variant): To update. This is a distinct, common compound word where "cập" carries the meaning of "to reach" or "to connect to" the newest state.
  • Tôi cần cập nhật phần mềm. (I need to update the software.)
• Cập rập (Adjective): Describes a rapid, continuous, and rhythmic sound (like drumming or knocking).
  • Tiếng mưa rơi cập rập trên mái tôn. (The rain fell pitter-patter on the corrugated iron roof.)

Notes on Usage

• The word "cập" is primarily used in the context of water navigation. Its core meaning involves a vessel making physical contact with a landing point or another vessel.
• In modern everyday language, the standalone verb "cập" is less common than its compound form "cập nhật" (to update). When used alone, it often carries a slightly literary or specific technical tone related to ships and boats.

verb

1. To land, to draw up alongside
   • thuyền cập bến
     the boat landed
   • ca nô cập mạn tàu
     the motor boat drew alongside the ship