Definition

1. Intransitive Verb:

   • To contract, to shrink: To become smaller in size, length, or volume, often due to external factors like cold, fear, or physical force.
   • To recoil, to withdraw: To move or pull back suddenly, often out of fear, pain, or surprise.

2. Transitive Verb:

   • To contract (something), to cause to shrink: To make something smaller or shorter by drawing its parts together.

Usage Examples

• Intransitive Verb:

  • Khi trời lạnh, các cơ bắp thường co lại. (When it's cold, muscles often contract.)
  • Con ốc sên co lại vào trong vỏ khi bị chạm vào. (The snail recoiled into its shell when touched.)
  • Anh ấy co lại vì sợ hãi. (He shrank back in fear.)

• Transitive Verb:

  • Cô ấy co lại tấm vải bằng cách là nóng. (She shrank the fabric by hot ironing.)
  • Con rắn co lại cơ thể để chuẩn bị tấn công. (The snake contracted its body to prepare to strike.)

Advanced Usage

• "co lại vì lạnh": to shrink/contract due to cold.

  • Các thanh kim loại có thể co lại vì lạnh. (Metal bars can contract due to cold.)

• "co lại trước khó khăn": to recoil/withdraw in the face of difficulty (figurative).

  • Chúng ta không nên co lại trước khó khăn. (We should not recoil from difficulties.)

Variants and Related Words

• Co (v): to contract, to shrink. "Co lại" is often a more emphatic or complete form of "co".
• Co rúm (v): to shrivel up, to cower (often implying a more contorted or fearful shrinking).
• Co cụm (v): to huddle, to curl up (into a ball).
• Sự co lại (n): contraction, shrinkage.

Synonyms

• Rút lại: to pull back, to retract (often used for non-physical things like statements).
• Thu nhỏ: to reduce in size, to miniaturize.
• Khép lại: to close up (like a flower).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Co vào: to shrink into, to withdraw into. Emphasizes movement a space or state.
  • Nó co vào một góc phòng. (It shrank into a corner of the room.)

Related Idioms

• Co đầu rút cổ: (lit. to shrink one's head and retract one's neck) To act timidly, to be afraid to take responsibility or step forward.

  • Gặp việc khó là anh ta lại co đầu rút cổ. (Whenever a difficult task arises, he shrinks back timidly.)

• Co vòi rút sừng: (lit. to retract one's trunk and horns) To back down completely, to give up all claims or aggressive postures.

  • Sau khi bị cảnh cáo, hắn đã co vòi rút sừng. (After being warned, he backed down completely.)