Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To be a member of; to belong to: The phrase "có chân" is used to indicate membership or participation in an organization, group, or team. It literally means "to have a foot/leg in," metaphorically suggesting having a position or stake within a collective.
   • To be involved in; to have a role in: It can also imply having a role, involvement, or a place within a specific activity or structure.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Anh ấy có chân trong ban chấp hành câu lạc bộ. (He is a member of the club's executive board.)
  • Cô ấy muốn có chân trong dự án quan trọng này. (She wants to be involved in this important project.)
  • Họ có chân trong nhiều hội đoàn từ thiện. (They are members of many charitable associations.)

Advanced Usage

• "có chân trong": to have a foot in; to be a part of. This is the most common construction, followed by the organization or group.

  • Công ty anh ta có chân trong nhiều thị trường quốc tế. (His company has a foot in many international markets.)

• "có một chân": to have a foot in the door. This emphasizes initial entry or a starting position within a group or field.

  • Với bằng thạc sĩ, cô ấy đã có một chân trong ngành công nghệ. (With a master's degree, she has a foot in the door of the tech industry.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thành viên (n): Member. A more direct and formal synonym for a person belonging to a group.

  • Anh ấy là một thành viên tích cực. (He is an active member.)

• Thuộc về (v): To belong to. Indicates possession or affiliation.

  • Nhóm này thuộc về khoa Kinh tế. (This group belongs to the Economics Faculty.)

Synonyms

• Là thành viên của: To be a member of.
• Tham gia: To participate in, to join (focuses more on the action of joining).
• Góp mặt: To be present/represented in (often used for events or lists).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Dính líu đến: To be involved in/connected to (can have a neutral or slightly negative connotation).
  • Hắn ta có chân/dính líu đến nhiều vụ án. (He is involved in many cases.)

Related Idioms

• "Có chân trong, có tay trong": To have both a foot and a hand in; to be deeply involved in something, often implying insider knowledge or influence.

  • Vụ án này phức tạp, chắc chắn có người có chân trong, có tay trong. (This case is complicated; surely there are people deeply involved in it.)

• "Chân ướt chân ráo": Literally "one foot wet, one foot dry"; to have just arrived or joined, to be new to a place or situation. This contrasts with the established presence implied by "có chân."

  • Anh ấy mới đến, còn chân ướt chân ráo, chưa thể có chân trong hội đồng quản trị. (He just arrived and is still new; he cannot yet be a member of the board of directors.)