chừa
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To leave (space/room): To intentionally keep an area or portion free or unoccupied.
- To spare, to leave alone: To refrain from harming, criticizing, or involving someone or something.
- To give up, to quit, to abstain from: To stop a bad habit or cease doing something undesirable.
Usage Examples
- To leave (space):
- Chừa lối ra vào. (Leave a way in and out.)
- Nhớ chừa chỗ cho tôi. (Remember to save a spot for me.)
- To spare, to leave alone:
- Chừa mặt nó ra. (Leave him alone.)
- Lời phê bình ấy chẳng chừa một ai. (That criticism spares no one.)
- To give up, to quit:
- Anh ấy đã chừa rượu. (He has given up alcohol.)
- Nó hứa sẽ chừa trò nghịch ngợm. (He promised to quit his mischievous ways.)
Advanced Usage
- "Đánh chết nết không chừa": An idiom meaning "A leopard cannot change its spots," used to say a person's ingrained bad character is hard to change.
- Nói mãi nó vẫn thế, đúng là đánh chết nết không chừa. (I've told him repeatedly, but he remains the same; a leopard truly cannot change its spots.)
Variants and Related Words
- Để chừa (v): A synonym meaning to leave aside or to spare.
- Chừa chỗ (v): To reserve a spot or save a place.
Synonyms
- To leave/reserve: To keep something available.
- To spare: To refrain from harming.
- To quit/abstain: To stop a habit.
Related Idioms
- "Biết tay ăn mặn thì chừa": A proverb meaning "If you know the salt eater's strength, then abstain," advising one to avoid provoking someone stronger or more experienced.
- "Lần trước bị đau, lần sau thì chừa": A saying meaning "It hurt last time, so you'll quit next time," similar to "Once bitten, twice shy."
verb
- To leave
- chừa lối ra vàoto leave room for going in and out
- chừa lề hơi rộngto leave a little too big margin
- To leave alone, to spare
- chừa mặt nó raleave him alone
- chẳng chừa một aito spare no one
- To give up
- chừa rượuto give up drinking
- đánh chết nết không chừaThe leopard cannot change its spot; What is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh