Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To try one's luck: To attempt something with the hope of a favorable outcome, often without certainty or a clear plan, relying on chance or fortune.

Usage

• Primary Meaning: Used to describe an action where someone attempts something risky or uncertain, hoping for a lucky or successful result.
• Context: Often used when the probability of success is low, or when one lacks a better alternative. It implies a reliance on luck rather than skill or preparation.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Anh ấy mua một tờ vé số chỉ để cầu may. (He bought a lottery ticket just to try his luck.)
  • Tôi sẽ cầu may và nộp đơn vào công ty đó, dù cơ hội rất thấp. (I will try my luck and apply to that company, even though the chance is very low.)
  • Chúng tôi quyết định cầu may bằng cách đi theo con đường mòn này. (We decided to try our luck by taking this trail.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cầu may rủi": This extended phrase emphasizes the dual possibility of good luck () or bad luck (), similar to "taking a chance" where the outcome is uncertain and could be either positive or negative.
  • Việc đầu tư lúc này là cầu may rủi. (Investing right now is a gamble / taking a chance.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thử vận may (Verb phrase): A near-synonym meaning "to test one's fortune" or "to try one's fortune."
• Liều (Verb): To dare, to take a risk. While implies a more active, daring risk, focuses more on the hope for luck.
• Đánh cược (Verb): To bet, to wager. This implies staking something on an outcome, whereas is broader.

Synonyms

• To take a chance: To do something with an uncertain outcome.
• To hope for the best: To hope that things will turn out well, often while taking an action.
• To gamble (in a non-literal sense): To take a risky action in the hope of a desired result.

Related Idioms

• "Ăn may": To get lucky, to have a stroke of luck. This describes the successful outcome that aims for.
  • Nó không học bài gì cả mà vẫn đỗ, đúng là ăn may. (He didn't study at all but still passed; that's pure luck.)
• "Hên xui": Literally "lucky unlucky," used to describe a situation dependent on pure chance.
  • Chuyện đó hên xui thôi, không thể đoán trước được. (That matter is a matter of luck; it's impossible to predict.)

1. To try one's luck