Definition

1. Verb:

   • To bow; to stoop; to bend: The action of lowering one's head or upper body forward and downward, often as a sign of respect, greeting, or to look at something closely.
   • To lower (one's head): Specifically refers to the movement of bringing the head down.

2. Noun:

   • Roll of carded cotton; cotton wick: A cylindrical roll of prepared cotton fibers, traditionally used as a wick for oil lamps or in other applications. (Note: This meaning is less common in modern general usage).

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Anh ấy cúi chào người lớn tuổi. (He bows to greet the elderly.)
  • Cô ấy cúi xuống nhặt chiếc bút. (She stoops/bends down to pick up the pen.)
  • Đứa trẻ cúi mặt xuống vì xấu hổ. (The child lowers his head in shame.)

• Noun:

  • Ngọn đèn dầu cháy nhờ sợi cúi. (The oil lamp burns thanks to the cotton wick.)

Advanced Usage

• "cúi đầu": To bow one's head (often implying deep respect, submission, or contemplation).
  • Cả khán phòng cúi đầu mặc niệm. (The entire auditorium bowed their heads in silence.)
• "cúi mình": To bow/bend one's body (a more formal or literary way to say 'to bow').
  • Vị võ sĩ cúi mình chào đối thủ. (The martial artist bowed to his opponent.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cúi lạy (verb phrase): To bow deeply in a worshipping or very respectful manner (common in religious or traditional contexts).
• Khom lưng / khum lưng (verb): To bend one's back; to stoop. A near-synonym focusing on the back's posture.
• Gục đầu (verb): To let one's head drop heavily (often due to exhaustion, sleep, or despair). Differs from cúi as it implies a lack of control or a sudden drop.

Synonyms

• Verb: Cúi xuống (to bend down), khom người (to stoop), nghiêng người (to lean over).
• Noun (for the cotton roll): Bấc đèn (lamp wick), ngòi đèn (lamp wick).

Related Phrases

• Cúi mặt làm thinh: (Idiomatic) To lower one's face and remain silent; to be silent out of shame, guilt, or inability to respond.
  • Bị chất vấn, anh ta chỉ biết cúi mặt làm thinh. (When questioned, he could only lower his face and remain silent.)
• Cúi đầu trước sự thật: (Idiomatic) To bow one's head before the truth; to accept the truth.
  • Cuối cùng anh ấy cũng phải cúi đầu trước sự thật. (He finally had to bow his head to the truth.)

verb

1. to bow; to stoop; to band

noun

1. Roll of carded cotton