Definition

1. Verb:
   • To wait (in readiness), to stand by: To be in a state of waiting, often with the intention of acting or seizing an opportunity when it arises.
   • To be about to, to be on the verge of: To be in a state where an action is imminent or very likely to happen, often requiring just a small trigger.
   • To live/eat at someone's expense (without invitation): To depend on others for sustenance or support, typically in an unwelcome or uninvited manner.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Tôi đã chực ở đây cả tiếng đồng hồ rồi. (I have been waiting/standing by here for a whole hour.)
  • Cơn bão chực tràn vào đất liền. (The storm is about to hit the mainland.)
  • Nó chỉ thích ăn chực ở nhà người khác. (He only likes to eat at other people's expense.)

Advanced Usage

• "chực chờ": To wait expectantly, to loiter in anticipation.
  • Hắn chực chờ cơ hội để trả thù. (He is lying in wait for an opportunity to take revenge.)
• "ăn chực": To eat by mooching off others.
  • Đừng có thói quen ăn chực của hàng xóm. (Don't develop the habit of mooching meals from the neighbors.)
• "nằm chờ": To lie in wait (often used with "ăn chực").
  • Kẻ trộm nằm chờ trong bóng tối. (The thief lay in wait in the darkness.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chờ (verb): To wait. (A more general and common synonym for the "waiting" aspect.)
• Sắp (adverb): To be about to. (A more common and general adverb for imminent action.)
• Hầu (verb): To attend, to serve. (Shares the aspect of being in readiness, but implies service.)

Synonyms

• Đợi: To wait.
• Rình: To lie in wait, to stalk. (Implies a more secretive or predatory intent.)
• Sắp sửa: To be just about to.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Chực sẵn: To be ready and waiting.
  • Máy ảnh đã chực sẵn để chụp khoảnh khắc đó. (The camera was ready and waiting to capture that moment.)

Related Idioms

• Ăn chực nằm chờ: To persistently wait around, often for food or favor; to live off others.
  • Hắn ta suốt ngày ăn chực nằm chờ ở quán ăn của dì tôi. (He spends all day loitering and mooching at my aunt's eatery.)
• Chực giành, chực cướp: To be poised to seize or snatch (something).
  • Các công ty đối thủ chực giành thị phần. (Rival companies are poised to seize market share.)

verb

1. To stand by
2. To be about to
   • nó chĩa súng chực bắn nhưng không kịp
     he aimed his gun and was about to fire, but it was too late
   • Như ghẹ
     To wait