Definition

1. Verb:
   • To flicker: To shine with an unsteady, wavering light that seems to go on and off quickly.
   • To flutter: To fly or move with quick, light, irregular motions, often unsteadily or close to a surface.
   • To wink leeringly / To ogle: To look at someone with a suggestive or flirtatious wink or glance.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Ngọn nến chấp chới trong gió. (The candle flame flickered in the wind.)
  • Những cánh bướm chấp chới trên những bông hoa. (Butterflies fluttered over the flowers.)
  • Anh ta chấp chới với cô gái ở quán bar. (He ogled the girl at the bar.)

Advanced Usage

• "chấp chới" to describe a precarious state: Figuratively used to describe something unsteady, uncertain, or on the verge of disappearing or failing.
  • Hy vọng của họ chỉ còn chấp chới. (Their hope was just flickering / hanging by a thread.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chập chờn (v): Similar to "chấp chới," meaning to flicker, to be unsteady, or to appear and disappear intermittently.
  • Ánh đèn chập chờn. (The light flickered unsteadily.)

Synonyms

• Flicker: To burn or shine unsteadily (for light).
• Flutter: To flap wings quickly and lightly (for flight).
• Ogle: To stare at in a lecherous manner.

Related Idioms

• Chấp chới như ngọn đèn trước gió: To be as flickering as a lamp in the wind; describing a very precarious or fragile situation.
  • Sức khỏe ông ấy yếu, chấp chới như ngọn đèn trước gió. (His health is weak, flickering like a lamp in the wind.)

verb

1. To fly with a rolling motion
   • bướm chấp chới bay liệng
     the butterfly flew with a rolling motion and hovered
2. To flicker
   • ánh đuốc chấp chới ở phía xa
     the glimmer of a torch flickered in the distance
3. To wink leeringly