Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To join forces, to pool resources, to work together: "chung lưng" describes the action of uniting efforts, strength, or capital with others to achieve a common goal, especially in business or challenging tasks. It implies solidarity and mutual support.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Họ chung lưng gây dựng lại ngôi làng sau cơn bão. (They joined forces to rebuild the village after the storm.)
  • Chúng tôi quyết định chung lưng mở một quán cà phê nhỏ. (We decided to pool our resources to open a small coffee shop.)
  • Để vượt qua khó khăn, cả gia đình phải chung lưng đấu cật. (To overcome hardship, the whole family must work together shoulder to shoulder.)

Advanced Usage

• "chung lưng đấu cật": A common idiomatic extension meaning to unite closely and support each other through thick and thin, emphasizing strong solidarity.
  • Trong hoạn nạn, họ đã chung lưng đấu cật vượt qua tất cả. (In times of trouble, they stood shoulder to shoulder and overcame everything.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chung vốn (verb phrase): To pool capital, to contribute capital together.
  • Hai công ty chung vốn đầu tư vào dự án mới. (The two companies pooled capital to invest in a new project.)
• Hợp tác (verb): To cooperate, to collaborate.
  • Hai nước hợp tác trong lĩnh vực giáo dục. (The two countries cooperate in the field of education.)
• Đoàn kết (verb): To unite, to stand together.
  • Đoàn kết lại sẽ tạo nên sức mạnh. (Uniting together will create strength.)

Synonyms

• Hợp sức: To combine strength/efforts.
• Góp sức: To contribute effort.
• Sát cánh: To stand side by side (often in a supportive context).

Related Idioms

• "Một cây làm chẳng nên non, ba cây chụm lại nên hòn núi cao": A Vietnamese proverb meaning "One tree cannot make a mountain, three trees together can form a high mountain." It conveys a similar idea of the power of unity and collective effort, which is the core spirit of "chung lưng".