Definition

1. Verb:
   • To carry under the arm or against the side: To hold or transport an object by clamping it between one's arm and torso.
   • To grip with claws, pincers, or beak: For an animal or bird to seize or hold something tightly with its claws, pincers, or beak.
   • To steal, to filch, to pilfer: To take something that belongs to someone else secretly and without permission. This meaning is often used in specific phrases.

Usage Examples

• To carry under the arm:
  • Cô ấy cắp cặp sách đi học. (She carried her schoolbag under her arm to school.)
• To grip with claws/pincers:
  • Con diều hâu cắp con mồi và bay đi. (The hawk gripped the prey in its talons and flew away.)
  • Cẩn thận kẻo bị cua cắp. (Be careful or the crab will pinch you.)
• To steal/filch:
  • Nó bị bắt quả tang cắp ví. (He was caught red-handed filching a wallet.)
  • Đồng hồ của tôi bị cắp mất. (My watch was stolen.)

Advanced Usage

• "ăn cắp": This is the most common compound for "to steal".
  • Tội ăn cắp bị trừng phạt nghiêm khắc. (The crime of theft is punished severely.)
• "kẻ cắp": This compound means "thief".
  • Kẻ cắp đã đột nhập vào nhà. (The thief broke into the house.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cắp sách (v): To carry books (under the arm), often specifically referring to going to school.
  • Bọn trẻ cắp sách đến trường. (The children carried their books to school.)
• Cắp trộm (v): To steal secretly, to pilfer.
  • Nó thường cắp trộm tiền của mẹ. (He often pilfers money from his mother.)

Synonyms

• To carry: To hold and move something from one place to another.
• To grip/to clutch: To hold something tightly.
• To steal/to filch: To take something without permission.

Related Idioms

• Cắp nách: Literally "to carry under the arm", used figuratively to describe following someone closely or being under someone's constant supervision.
  • Cô ấy đi đâu cũng cắp nách đứa con nhỏ. (Wherever she goes, she has her small child in tow.)

verb

1. To carry by holding against one's side, to carry under one's arms
   • cắp nón
     to carry one's hat by holding it against one's side
2. To claw, to grip
   • diều hâu cắp gà con
     the kite clawed the chicken
   • cua cắp
     the crab grips with its claws
3. To filch, to steal
   • ăn cắp vặt
     to pilfer