Definition

1. Verb:

   • To sting, to prick: To pierce the skin with a sharp, pointed object, often causing a brief, sharp pain, as from an insect or thorn.
   • To light, to kindle: To apply a flame to something to start it burning.
   • To practice acupuncture: To insert fine needles into specific points on the body for therapeutic purposes.

2. Noun:

   • Acupuncture: The traditional medical practice involving the insertion of needles.
   • An admonition (literary, classical): A classical literary form used for giving advice or warnings.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to sting/prick):
  • Ong châm quả bầu. (A bee stings a gourd.)
  • Bị gai châm vào người. (To be pricked by a thorn.)
• Verb (to light):
  • Đánh diêm để châm đèn. (To strike a match to light the lamp.)
  • Châm điếu thuốc. (To light a cigarette.)
• Noun (acupuncture):
  • Ông ấy đang học về châm. (He is studying acupuncture.)

Advanced Usage

• "châm ngòi": Literally "to light the fuse," used figuratively to mean to trigger or set off an event (often a conflict or explosion).
  • Sự kiện đó đã châm ngòi cho cuộc biểu tình. (That event triggered the protest.)
• "châm chọc": To tease, to make pointed or sarcastic remarks.
  • Anh ấy thích châm chọc người khác. (He likes to tease others.)

Variants and Related Words

• Châm cứu (n/v): Acupuncture / to perform acupuncture. This is the most common compound for the medical practice.
  • Châm cứu có thể giúp giảm đau. (Acupuncture can help reduce pain.)
• Châm lửa (v): To set fire to, to ignite.
  • Không được châm lửa trong rừng. (Do not set fires in the forest.)

Synonyms

• Sting/Prick: pierce, jab.
• Light: ignite, kindle.
• Acupuncture: needle therapy.

Related Idioms

• Đau buốt như kim châm: Aching sharply as if being pricked by needles; describes a sharp, piercing pain.
  • Vết thương đau buốt như kim châm. (The wound ached with a pricking pain.)
• Châm dầu vào lửa: Literally "to add oil to the fire," meaning to aggravate a situation, to make things worse.
  • Lời nói của anh ta như châm dầu vào lửa. (His words were like adding fuel to the fire.)

noun

1. Acupuncture

verb

1. To sting, to prick
   • ong châm quả bầu
     a bee stings a gourd
   • bị gai châm vào người
     his body was pricked by thorns
   • đau buốt như kim châm
     to feel a pricking pain
2. To light, to kindle
   • đánh diêm để châm đèn
     to strike a match and light a lamp
   • châm điếu thuốc
     to light a cigarette
   • châm ngòi thuốc nổ
     to light a fuse