Definition

1. Verb:
   • To exchange, to barter: "chác" means to trade or swap one thing for another, often goods or items of value.
   • To incur, to bring upon oneself (a negative consequence): In classical or literary usage, "chác" can mean to incur or bring about, usually something undesirable like trouble or sorrow.

Usage Examples

• Verb (To exchange):

  • Họ chác gạo lấy vải. (They bartered rice for cloth.)
  • Người nông dân chác trứng gà lấy muối. (The farmer exchanged chicken eggs for salt.)

• Verb (To incur):

  • Chàng trai ấy chác lấy phiền muộn vì tình yêu. (That young man incurred sorrow because of love.)
  • Đừng chác họa vào thân. (Do not bring disaster upon yourself.)

Advanced Usage

• "chác lấy": to take upon oneself, to incur (often used with negative outcomes).
  • Anh ta đã chác lấy sự thù ghét của mọi người. (He incurred the hatred of everyone.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đổi chác (verb phrase): to trade, to barter. This is the most common modern compound containing "chác".
  • Việc đổi chác hàng hóa diễn ra sôi nổi tại chợ. (The bartering of goods took place vibrantly at the market.)

Synonyms

• Đổi: to exchange, to change.
• Trao đổi: to exchange, to trade.
• Chuốc lấy (literary): to bring upon oneself (something bad).

Notes on Meaning

• The primary meaning of "chác" as a standalone verb is to barter or exchange. However, this usage is now considered somewhat archaic or literary.
• In contemporary Vietnamese, "chác" is almost exclusively used in the compound word "đổi chác".
• The secondary meaning, "to incur" (something negative), is found in classical poetry and literature (e.g., in "Truyện Kiều" by Nguyễn Du: "Bỗng không mua não, chác sầu" – Suddenly, without buying melancholy, she incurred sorrow). This usage is highly literary.

1. (xem) đổi chác