cơi nới

Gia đình tôi dự định cơi nới ngôi nhà cũ.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To extend and enlarge (a structure): The primary meaning of "cơi nới" refers to the physical act of expanding a building, typically a house, by adding height or floor space. It implies modifying the original structure to make it larger.
   • To expand or stretch (limits, capacity): In a figurative sense, "cơi nới" can mean to push back or increase limits, such as time, space, or capacity, often beyond the original or intended scope.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Gia đình tôi dự định cơi nới ngôi nhà cũ. (My family plans to extend and enlarge the old house.)
  • Họ đã cơi nới căn phòng để có thêm chỗ chứa đồ. (They extended the room to have more storage space.)
  • Công ty cố gắng cơi nới thời hạn nộp hồ sơ. (The company tried to stretch the application deadline.)

Advanced Usage

• "cơi nới" in urban planning contexts: Often used to describe unauthorized or informal construction extensions, especially in densely populated areas.
  • Nhiều ngôi nhà ở đây đã cơi nới trái phép. (Many houses here have been extended illegally.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mở rộng (v): to widen, to expand (a more general term for expansion).

  • Họ mở rộng con đường. (They widened the road.)

• Xây thêm (v): to build an addition.

  • Họ xây thêm một tầng. (They built an additional floor.)

Synonyms

• Extend: to make longer or larger.
• Enlarge: to make bigger.
• Expand: to increase in size or scope.

Related Idioms

• Cơi nới quyền hạn: to overstep or stretch one's authority.
  • Ông ta bị khiển trách vì cơi nới quyền hạn. (He was reprimanded for overstepping his authority.)