Definition

1. Verb:
   • To hide or to conceal: The primary meaning of "cất giấu" is to put something in a secret or safe place so that others cannot see it, find it, or know about it. It implies an intentional act of secrecy.
   • To store away secretly: It can also mean to keep something out of sight for safekeeping, often with the connotation of protecting it from discovery or theft.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy cất giấu những bức thư trong một chiếc hộp. (She hid the letters in a box.)
  • Hắn cất giấu vũ khí trong tầng hầm. (He concealed the weapons in the basement.)
  • Chúng tôi phải cất giấu tài liệu quan trọng này. (We have to hide this important document.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb "cất giấu" often carries a nuance of something being illicit, valuable, or sensitive. It is not typically used for casual, everyday storage.
  • Kẻ trộm đã cất giấu đồ ăn cắp trong một kho hàng bỏ hoang. (The thief stashed the stolen goods in an abandoned warehouse.)

Variants and Related Words

• Giấu (v): to hide, to conceal. This is a simpler, more general synonym.
  • Đứa trẻ giấu đồ chơi sau lưng. (The child hid the toy behind his back.)
• Cất (v): to put away, to store. This lacks the strong secretive connotation of "cất giấu."
  • Cô ấy cất sách lên giá. (She put the books away on the shelf.)
• Che giấu (v): to cover up, to conceal (often used for abstract things like feelings or the truth).
  • Anh ấy không thể che giấu sự thất vọng. (He couldn't conceal his disappointment.)

Synonyms

• Hide: to put or keep out of sight.
• Conceal: to keep something secret or prevent it from being known or noticed.
• Stash: to store something safely in a secret place.

Related Idioms

• While "cất giấu" itself is not commonly part of a fixed idiom, it is used in contexts describing secretive actions.
  • Cất giấu của nợ: to hide ill-gotten gains or contraband.

    • Bọn buôn lậu cất giấu của nợ trong rừng. (The smugglers hid their contraband in the forest.)

1. Hide, conceal