Definition

1. Verb:
   • To sketch: To draw or paint with quick, free, and often incomplete lines or strokes, capturing the basic form or essence of a subject without detailed refinement. This is the core artistic meaning.
   • To highlight / to accentuate: To add small, strategic touches or details that enhance or bring out the main features of something, often used metaphorically beyond visual art.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Họa sĩ chấm phá vài nét để ghi lại khoảnh khắc. (The artist sketched a few strokes to capture the moment.)
  • Bài viết chỉ chấm phá vài điểm chính của vấn đề. (The article only highlighted a few key points of the issue.)
  • Đó là một bức tranh chấm phá, đầy gợi cảm. (It is a sketchy painting, full of suggestion.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe a style or technique in traditional East Asian ink wash painting (sumi-e), where the essence of a subject is captured with minimal, expressive strokes.
• In writing or speech, it describes a method of touching lightly on topics or details rather than providing exhaustive coverage.

Variants and Related Words

• Nét chấm phá (n): A sketchy line or stroke; a highlight or accentuating feature.
  • Nét chấm phá ấy làm bức tranh sống động hơn. (That sketchy stroke makes the painting more lively.)

Synonyms

• Sketch: To make a rough, quick drawing.
• Outline: To indicate the main features.
• Highlight: To emphasize or draw attention to.

Related Idioms

• Lối văn chấm phá: A writing style that uses suggestive, impressionistic details rather than dense description.
  • Truyện của ông được viết theo lối văn chấm phá. (His stories are written in a sketchy, suggestive style.)

verb

1. To sketch
   • bức tranh chấm phá
     a sketch
   • nét vẽ chấm phá
     a sketchy line