Definition

1. Verb:
   • To prize, to pry, to lever open: To use force with a tool inserted into a gap or crevice to open something, lift something off, or detach something that is stuck or closed.
   • To steer (a boat) to port, to put the helm to port: (Nautical, less common) To turn a boat or ship to the left side.

Usage Examples

• Verb (To prize/pry):

  • Anh ấy dùng tuốc-nơ-vít để cạy nắp hộp. (He used a screwdriver to prize the lid off the box.)
  • Tên trộm cố gắng cạy cửa sổ. (The thief tried to pry the window open.)
  • Cô ấy cạy lớp vỏ cây bằng một con dao nhỏ. (She levered the bark off with a small knife.)

• Verb (To steer port):

  • Người lái thuyền hô "cạy" để rẽ sang trái. (The boatman shouted "port" to turn left.)
  • Phải cạy tay lái ngay để tránh tảng đá ngầm. (You must put the helm to port immediately to avoid the submerged rock.)

Advanced Usage

• "cạy miệng (ai)": (figurative) To try to force someone to speak or reveal information.
  • Có cạy miệng nó ra nó cũng không chịu nói sự thật. (Even if you pried his mouth open, he wouldn't tell the truth.)
• "cạy cục cơm cháy": To scrape off the burnt, crispy rice from the bottom of the pot. This illustrates the action of detaching something stuck.
  • Em thích cạy cục cơm cháy để ăn. (I like to prize off the burnt rice crust to eat.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bẩy: A more common synonym for the "prying" action. and are often interchangeable.
• Nạy: Another synonym meaning to pry or lever open.
• Cạy cửa: A compound noun meaning "door prying" or "breaking and entering" (via prying).

Synonyms

• To pry: (General) To inquire impertinently or to force something open.
• To lever: (More technical) To use a lever to move or open something.
• To jimmy: (Specific) To force open, especially a window or door, often with a tool.
• To steer port / to put the helm to port: (Nautical) The exact English equivalents for the sailing term.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a single verb, "cạy" does not form phrasal verbs in the same way English verbs do. Its meaning is combined with a direct object. - cạy ra: To pry (something) out. - Anh ta cạy con ốc ra. (He pried the screw out.) - cạy lên: To prize/pry (something) up. - Hãy cạy tấm ván sàn lên. (Let's prize the floorboard up.)

Related Idioms

• Cạy răng cũng không nói: (Idiom) Literally "Even prying (their) teeth won't make them talk." It means someone is extremely tight-lipped or stubbornly refuses to speak.
  • Hắn là người kín miệng, cạy răng cũng không nói. (He is a secretive person; you couldn't get a word out of him even with a crowbar.)

verb

1. To prize
   • cạy nắp hòm
     to prize up the lid of a crate
   • cạy cửa
     to prize open a door
2. To steer port, to put the helm to port