Definition

1. Verb:
   • To have a brief, light sleep; to doze off for a very short moment: The word "chợp" describes the action of closing one's eyes and sleeping for an extremely short period, often unintentionally or restlessly. It implies a nap so brief it's almost just a moment of closed eyes.
   • To take a wink of sleep: This is a direct, idiomatic translation capturing the fleeting nature of the sleep.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy vừa mới chợp được một tí, gà đã gáy. (He had just managed a wink of sleep when the rooster crowed.)
  • Tôi mệt quá, chỉ muốn chợp mắt một lúc. (I'm so tired, I just want to close my eyes for a moment.)
  • Trên xe buýt, cô ấy chợp được vài phút. (On the bus, she dozed off for a few minutes.)

Advanced Usage

• "chợp mắt": This is the most common and natural collocation. It literally means "to close the eyes (for a moment)" and is the standard phrase for taking a very short nap.
  • Cho tôi chợp mắt mười phút thôi. (Let me take a ten-minute nap / get forty winks.)
• The word "chợp" alone is often understood, but "chợp mắt" is more complete and idiomatic in most contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Ngủ (v): To sleep (general term, for any duration).
• Ngủ gật (v): To nod off (often while sitting, implying fighting sleep).
• Ngủ nướng (v): To sleep in.
• Giấc ngủ ngắn (n): A short sleep, a nap.

Synonyms

• Ngủ lơ mơ: To sleep fitfully, to be half-asleep.
• Thiu thiu ngủ: To be drowsy, to be in a light, nodding sleep.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Chợp lấy chợp để: To sleep in fits and starts; to have a very restless, interrupted sleep.
  • Đêm qua ồn ào quá, tôi chỉ chợp lấy chợp để. (It was too noisy last night, I only slept in fits and starts.)

Related Idioms

• Chợp mắt được chút nào hay chút ấy: To get whatever little sleep one can. This idiom emphasizes making the most of any opportunity for brief rest.
  • Lịch trình dày đặc, anh ấy chợp mắt được chút nào hay chút ấy. (With a packed schedule, he gets whatever little sleep he can.)

1. To have a wink of sleep, to sleep a wink
   • vừa mới chợp được một tí, gà đã gáy
     he had just a wink of sleep when the cock crowed