Definition

1. Verb:
   • To steer, to drive, to pilot: To hold and control the steering wheel, helm, or handlebars to direct the course of a vehicle (like a car, bicycle, or motorcycle) or a vessel (like a ship or boat).
   • To lead, to be in charge (figurative): To take control or leadership of a situation, organization, or project, guiding its direction.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy đang cầm lái chiếc ô tô mới. (He is driving the new car.)
  • Thuyền trưởng cầm lái con tàu vượt qua cơn bão. (The captain steered the ship through the storm.)
  • Trong thời kỳ khủng hoảng, cô ấy là người cầm lái công ty. (During the crisis, she was the one at the helm of the company.)

Advanced Usage

• "cầm lái chính": The main driver/pilot; the person primarily in control of steering.
  • Trong chuyến đua, anh ta là tay cầm lái chính. (In the race, he was the main driver.)
• "tự cầm lái": To drive/steer by oneself.
  • Tôi thích tự cầm lái khi đi du lịch. (I prefer to drive myself when traveling.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lái (verb): To drive, to pilot. Often used interchangeably with "cầm lái" but can be more general.
  • lái xe (to drive a car), lái tàu (to pilot a ship).
• Người cầm lái (noun): The driver, the pilot, the helmsman.
  • Người cầm lái phải có giấy phép. (The driver must have a license.)
• Vô-lăng / Tay lái (noun): Steering wheel / handlebars. The object that is held to steer.
• Lái máy bay (verb phrase): To fly a plane (specific type of piloting).

Synonyms

• Điều khiển: To control, to operate. (Broader term, can apply to any machine or system.)
• Chèo lái: To steer, to navigate. (Often used figuratively for guiding a situation.)

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Cầm lái cho ai: To drive/steer for someone.
  • Tôi mệt rồi, bạn có thể cầm lái cho tôi một lúc không? (I'm tired, can you drive for me for a while?)
• Lên cầm lái: To take over the steering/driving.
  • Sau giờ nghỉ, anh ấy sẽ lên cầm lái. (After the break, he will take over the driving.)

Related Idioms

• Cầm lái vận mệnh: To steer one's own destiny. (To take control of one's own life and future.)
  • Mỗi người phải tự cầm lái vận mệnh của mình. (Everyone must steer their own destiny.)
• Để ai đó cầm lái: To let someone else take the wheel/lead. (To relinquish control.)
  • Đôi khi bạn cần biết cách để người khác cầm lái. (Sometimes you need to know how to let someone else take the wheel.)

1. To take the helm, to be at the wheel, to hold the steering wheel, to steer
2. cẩm lai

noun

1. Barian kingwood