Definition

1. Verb:
   • To copy, to crib: To reproduce someone else's work, especially written work like homework, an essay, or an exam answer, and present it as one's own. This action is typically considered dishonest in academic or professional settings.
   • To amass, to gather bit by bit: (Less common, somewhat literary) To collect or accumulate something in small amounts over time.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to copy/crib):

  • Nó bị phát hiện cóp bài trong giờ kiểm tra. (He was caught copying/cribbing during the test.)
  • Đừng cóp ý tưởng của người khác. (Don't copy other people's ideas.)
  • Giáo viên nói rằng cóp bài văn là vi phạm quy tắc. (The teacher said cribbing an essay is a rule violation.)

• Verb (to amass):

  • Bà ấy cóp nhặt từng đồng để dành cho con. (She amassed/gathered every penny to save for her child.)
  • Anh ấy cóp được một số tiền kha khá sau nhiều năm. (He managed to amass a considerable sum of money after many years.)

Advanced Usage

• "cóp nhặt": This compound verb combines "cóp" (to gather) and "nhặt" (to pick up). It means to collect or gather things (often information, knowledge, or small items) bit by bit, sometimes in a haphazard or unsystematic way.
  • Anh ấy chỉ cóp nhặt kiến thức từ nhiều nguồn khác nhau. (He just gathered/picked up knowledge from various sources.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sao chép (verb): To copy, to duplicate. This is a more general and neutral term for copying, not necessarily implying plagiarism.
• Ăn cắp ý tưởng (verb phrase): To steal ideas; a stronger, more accusatory phrase than "cóp".
• Gom góp (verb): To gather, to collect. Similar to the less common meaning of "cóp".

Synonyms

• Chép (verb): To copy by writing. Can be neutral ("chép bài" - to take notes) or negative in context ("chép bài bạn" - to copy a friend's work).
• Bắt chước (verb): To imitate, to mimic. Focuses on imitating actions or styles rather than directly copying text.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As "cóp" is a single-syllable verb, it does not commonly form phrasal verbs in the same way English verbs do. Its meanings are typically modified by following nouns or used in compound verbs like "cóp nhặt".

Related Idioms

• Cóp của người khác làm của mình: To copy from others and claim it as one's own. This phrase explicitly states the dishonest nature of the act.
  • Trong học thuật, cóp của người khác làm của mình là hành vi đạo văn nghiêm trọng. (In academia, copying from others and claiming it as your own is a serious act of plagiarism.)

verb

1. to copy; crib
   • cóp bài văn
     To crib an essay