Definitions

1. Noun:
   • Heart (in playing cards): One of the four suits in a standard deck of playing cards, represented by a red heart symbol (♥).
   • Muscle: A band or bundle of fibrous tissue in a human or animal body that has the ability to contract, producing movement in or maintaining the position of parts of the body.
   • Occasion; possibility; opportunity: A favorable juncture of circumstances; a chance for advancement or progress.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Heart - playing card):

  • Lá ách cơ. (The ace of hearts.)
  • Tôi có một quân bài cơ. (I have a heart card.)

• Noun (Muscle):

  • Anh ấy tập thể dục để phát triển cơ bắp. (He exercises to develop his muscles.)
  • Cơ tay của tôi bị đau. (My arm muscle is sore.)

• Noun (Opportunity):

  • Hãy thừa cơ mà tấn công. (Seize the opportunity to attack.)
  • Đây là cơ tốt để chúng ta hợp tác. (This is a good opportunity for us to cooperate.)

Advanced Usage

• "cơ hội": This is a compound noun meaning "opportunity" or "chance." While "cơ" alone can mean opportunity, "cơ hội" is the more common and complete term in modern usage.

  • Đây là cơ hội ngàn năm có một. (This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.)

• "cơ bắp": This is a compound noun specifically meaning "muscles" or "musculature."

  • Anh vận động viên có thân hình cơ bắp. (That athlete has a muscular physique.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cơ học (n): Mechanics (the branch of physics).
• Cơ khí (n): Mechanics (engineering); mechanical.
• Cơ thể (n): Body (of a living organism).
• Cơ quan (n): Organ (of the body); agency, organization.
• Cơ cấu (n): Structure, mechanism, framework.
• Cơ bản (adj): Basic, fundamental.
• Cơ sở (n): Base, basis, foundation; facility.

Synonyms

• Cơ hội (for "cơ" as opportunity): Chance, opportunity.
• Bắp thịt / Cơ bắp (for "cơ" as muscle): Muscle.
• Quả tim (for "cơ" as heart suit, but note: "quả tim" means the physical heart organ, not the card suit): Heart.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs / Common Collocations)

• Thừa cơ: To seize/take advantage of an opportunity.
• Để lộ cơ: To reveal one's opportunity or plan (often in a strategic context).
• Mất cơ: To miss/lose an opportunity.
• Có cơ: To have a chance/possibility.
  • Anh ta có cơ thắng. (He has a chance of winning.)

Related Idioms

• "Cơ trời" / "Cơ trời vận nước": Refers to the mysterious, predestined opportunities or turns of fate determined by heaven/the universe. It conveys a sense of profound, often inscrutable, cosmic chance.
  • Việc thành bại đều do cơ trời. (Success or failure depends on the turns of fate.)
• "Thất cơ": To miss the moment; to fail to seize a critical opportunity.
  • Thất cơ lỡ vận. (To miss the chance and let fortune slip away.)

noun

1. heart
   • lá ách cơ
     The ace of heart
2. Muscle
3. Occasion; possibility; opportunity
   • thừa cơ
     To seize an opportunity