Definition

1. Verb:
   • To snatch, to grab, to nab: To seize something or someone suddenly and quickly, often with the hand(s). It implies a swift, often opportunistic or forceful, action of taking hold.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Chộp được con ếch. (To grab a frog.)
  • Nghe báo động, chộp ngay lấy khẩu súng. (On the sounding of the alarm, he snatched a rifle.)
  • Chộp gọn toán biệt kích. (To nab roundly a band of enemy commandos.)
  • Chộp thời cơ. (To seize the opportunity.)
  • Tên kẻ cắp bị chộp. (The thief was caught/nabbed.)

Advanced Usage

• "Chộp lấy": To grab hold of, to seize. This emphasizes the act of taking possession.
  • Anh ấy chộp lấy cơ hội cuối cùng. (He grabbed the last chance.)
• "Chộp gọn": To nab/capture completely and neatly. Often used for capturing criminals or winning decisively in a contest.
  • Cảnh sát đã chộp gọn băng nhóm. (The police nabbed the gang neatly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chớp (nhoáng) (Verb): To flash, to flicker. While phonetically similar, it means something different (related to light). However, it can be used in the idiom (to seize an opportunity in a flash), which is synonymous with .
• Tóm (Verb): To catch, to seize. A close synonym, but can imply a more deliberate or encompassing capture, while emphasizes suddenness and speed.
• Bắt (Verb): To catch, to arrest. A more general term for capturing.

Synonyms

• Snatch: To take something quickly, often from someone.
• Grab: To take hold of something suddenly and firmly.
• Nab: To catch or seize, especially someone doing something wrong.
• Seize: To take hold of suddenly and forcibly.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Chộp được: To succeed in grabbing/catching.
  • Cuối cùng tôi cũng chộp được nó. (I finally managed to nab him.)
• Bị chộp: To be caught/nabbed.
  • Kẻ trộm bị chộp tại hiện trường. (The thief was nabbed at the scene.)

Related Idioms

• Chộp thời cơ / Chớp thời cơ: To seize the opportunity. This idiom highlights acting quickly to take advantage of a fleeting chance.
  • Trong kinh doanh, phải biết chộp thời cơ. (In business, you must know how to seize the opportunity.)

verb

1. To snatch, to grab, to nab
   • chộp được con ếch
     to grab a frog
   • nghe báo động, chộp ngay lấy khẩu súng
     on the sounding of the alarm, he snatched a rifle
   • chộp gọn toán biệt kích
     to nab roundly a band of enemy commandoes