Definition

1. Verb:
   • To carve, to engrave: "chạm trổ" refers to the meticulous action of carving or engraving intricate patterns, designs, or decorations onto a material, typically wood, stone, or metal, often for artistic or ornamental purposes.
   • To embellish with carvings: It can also mean to adorn or decorate an object by carving detailed artwork into its surface.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Người nghệ nhân đang chạm trổ hoa văn lên cánh cửa gỗ. (The artisan is carving patterns onto the wooden door.)
  • Chiếc bàn này được chạm trổ rất tinh xảo. (This table is very intricately carved.)
  • Họ chạm trổ hình rồng trên cột đình. (They carved a dragon image on the communal house's pillar.)

Advanced Usage

• "nghệ thuật chạm trổ": the art of carving.

  • Nghệ thuật chạm trổ gỗ của người Việt rất nổi tiếng. (The wood carving art of the Vietnamese is very famous.)

• "tay nghề chạm trổ": carving skill/craftsmanship.

  • Ông ấy có tay nghề chạm trổ điêu luyện. (He has masterful carving skills.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chạm (verb): to carve, to engrave (a more general term than "chạm trổ").
  • chạm khắc: to carve and engrave.
• Trổ (verb): to show, to bloom; in this compound, it contributes the nuance of intricate, detailed work.
• Điêu khắc (verb/noun): to sculpt; sculpture (a broader term for sculpting, often in three dimensions).

Synonyms

• Khắc: to engrave, to inscribe (often implies cutting into a surface with lines or letters).
• Trạm trổ: a less common variant with the same meaning as "chạm trổ".
• Cẩn: to inlay (inlaying materials like mother-of-pearl, different technique but similar decorative purpose).

Related Phrases

• Chạm nổi: to carve in relief.
  • Bức tường được chạm nổi hình chim phượng. (The wall is carved with a phoenix in relief.)
• Chạm lộng: to carve openwork or fretwork (creating patterns with holes).
  • Cửa sổ chạm lộng rất đẹp. (The window with openwork carving is very beautiful.)

Related Idioms

• "Khéo như chạm trổ": (as) skillful as carving; used to praise someone's dexterity or meticulous work.
  • Đôi tay cô thợ may khéo như chạm trổ. (The seamstress's hands are as skillful as carving.)

1. To carve
   • nghệ thuật chạm trổ
     the carving art
   • mái đình chạm trổ
     a carved roof of a communal house