Definition

1. Verb:
   • To bite: To use the teeth to cut into, grip, or pierce something.
   • To sting or cause irritation: To cause a sharp, pricking pain or itch, as from an insect or plant.
   • To fit tightly: To join or fit together very snugly and securely.
   • To be absorbed: For a substance (like dye or ink) to penetrate and adhere firmly to a material.
   • To bark: For a dog to make a sharp, loud sound.

Usage Examples

• To bite:
  • Con chó cắn vào ống quần. (The dog bit the pants leg.)
  • Đứa trẻ cắn một miếng táo. (The child bit a piece of the apple.)
• To sting/cause irritation:
  • Muỗi cắn rất ngứa. (Mosquito bites are very itchy.)
• To fit tightly:
  • Các mảnh gỗ này cắn khít với nhau. (These wood pieces fit tightly together.)
• To be absorbed:
  • Loại mực này cắn giấy rất nhanh. (This type of ink is absorbed into the paper very quickly.)
• To bark:
  • Con chó cắn suốt đêm. (The dog barked all night.)

Advanced Usage

• "cắn câu": Literally "to bite the hook"; figuratively, to take the bait, to fall for a trick or scam.
  • Tên trộm đã cắn câu và bị bắt. (The thief took the bait and was caught.)
• "cắn răng chịu đựng": Literally "to bite one's teeth and endure"; to grit one's teeth and bear something difficult.
  • Cô ấy phải cắn răng chịu đựng nỗi đau. (She had to grit her teeth and endure the pain.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cắn xé (v): To bite and tear; often used figuratively to describe fierce criticism or conflict.
  • Hai công ty lớn đang cắn xé nhau trên thị trường. (The two large companies are tearing into each other in the market.)
• Đốt cắn (n): A general term for stings and bites from insects or animals.

Synonyms

• Bite: to use the teeth to cut or grip.
• Sting: to pierce with a sharp, often poisonous, organ (e.g., a bee).
• Gnaw: to bite or chew persistently.
• Bark: the sound a dog makes.
• Fit: to be of the correct size and shape.

Related Idioms

• Cõng rắn cắn gà nhà: Literally "to carry a snake to bite the home chicken"; to bring in an outsider to harm one's own family or group. Equivalent to "to nurture a viper in one's bosom."
  • Hợp tác với đối thủ như vậy là cõng rắn cắn gà nhà. (Cooperating with a rival like that is nurturing a viper in our bosom.)
• Cắn hột cơm không vỡ: Literally "can't even bite a grain of rice without breaking it"; a derogatory saying meaning someone is utterly useless or incompetent.
• Cắn rơm cắn cỏ: Literally "to bite straw and bite grass"; to beg or plead very humbly and desperately.

verb

1. To bite
   • cắn miếng bánh
     to have a bite of cake, to bite off a bit of cake
   • cắn chặt môi để khỏi bật tiếng khóc
     to bite one's lips to suppress a sob
   • rét cắn da cắn thịt
     a biting cold
   • cá cắn câu
     the fish bites
2. To pit well
   • bàn đóng cắn mộng
     the table's boards fit well
   • thúng thóc đầy cắn cạp
     the level of paddy in the basket fitted well with its brim; the basket of paddy was full to the brim
3. To stick fast