Definition

1. Verb:

   • To raid, to mop up: Refers to military operations where troops sweep through an area, often to search, destroy, or suppress.
   • To rush headlong, to barge through: To move or act recklessly and with force through a place or situation.

2. Adjective:

   • Wanton, reckless, senseless: Describes an action that is done without reason, care, or control.
   • Foolish, nonsensical: Describes speech or behavior that is absurd or without logical basis.

3. Adverb:

   • Recklessly, foolishly: Modifies a verb to indicate an action is done in a rash, thoughtless, or nonsensical manner.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Quân địch càn vào làng. (The enemy troops raided the village.)
  • Nó càn qua cửa mà không gõ. (He barged through the door without knocking.)

• Adjective:

  • Đó là một hành động càn rỡ. (That was a wanton/reckless act.)
  • Lời nói càn ấy chẳng có ý nghĩa gì. (That foolish talk is meaningless.)

• Adverb:

  • Đừng có nói càn! (Don't talk nonsense!)
  • Nó cứ hành động càn như vậy. (He just acts so recklessly like that.)

Advanced Usage

• "chống càn": to resist a raid or mop-up operation.

  • Dân làng đã anh dũng chống càn. (The villagers bravely resisted the enemy raid.)

• "càn quét": to sweep through (often militarily), to scour. This is a more intensive and common compound form.

  • Máy bay địch càn quét khu vực. (Enemy aircraft scoured the area.)

Variants and Related Words

• Càn rỡ (adj): Wanton, reckless, savage. Often used to describe brutal or senseless actions.

  • Sự tàn phá càn rỡ của cơn bão. (The wanton destruction of the storm.)

• Nói càn (v phrase): To talk nonsense, to speak recklessly.

  • Đứa trẻ hay nói càn. (The child often talks nonsense.)

Synonyms

• Raid: (for verb) to attack or enter suddenly and forcibly.
• Reckless: (for adjective) without thinking or caring about consequences.
• Nonsense: (for adverb/adj) speech or writing that is silly or meaningless.

Related Idioms

• Chó dại cắn càn: A rabid dog bites wantonly. Used to describe irrational, uncontrolled, and destructive behavior.

  • Kẻ ấy tấn công mọi người như chó dại cắn càn. (That person attacked everyone like a rabid dog biting wantonly.)

• Làm càn: To act foolishly or recklessly.

  • Nó uống rượu rồi làm càn. (He drank alcohol and then acted recklessly.)

verb

1. To rush headlong through
   • càn rừng
     to rush headlong through a forest
2. To raid, to mop up
   • chống càn
     to resist raids

adj

1. Wanton
   • chó dại cắn càn
     a rabid dog bites wantonly