Definition

1. Verb:

   • To work/act with intense concentration, completely absorbed in a task: "cắm cúi" describes the action of focusing deeply on an activity, often with one's head bowed or without looking up, implying diligence and immersion.
   • To be fully stretched, to be at full stretch: It can also describe doing something with maximum effort and sustained focus.

2. Adjective:

   • Fully absorbed, deeply engrossed: Used to describe a state of being completely immersed in an activity.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Anh ấy cắm cúi làm việc cả ngày mà không nghỉ. (He worked with intense concentration all day without a break.)
  • Cô bé cắm cúi viết bài luận cho đến khuya. (The girl was fully absorbed in writing her essay until late at night.)

• Adjective:

  • Trong thư viện chỉ thấy những sinh viên cắm cúi. (In the library, only deeply engrossed students could be seen.)
  • Dáng vẻ cắm cúi của anh ấy cho thấy sự tập trung cao độ. (His absorbed posture showed a high level of concentration.)

Advanced Usage

• "cắm cúi vào + [task/object]": To be buried in, to be plunged into (a specific task).

  • Cậu ấy cắm cúi vào cuốn tiểu thuyết mới. (He was buried in the new novel.)

• "cắm mặt cắm cúi": An intensified phrase emphasizing complete, head-down absorption.

  • Cô ấy cắm mặt cắm cúi học bài chuẩn bị cho kỳ thi. (She kept her head down, studying intensely to prepare for the exam.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chăm chú (adj/adv): Attentive, attentively. (Focuses more on paying attention rather than the physical posture of being bowed over.)
• Miệt mài (adj/adv): Assiduous, diligently. (Emphasizes persistent, diligent effort over time.)

Synonyms

• Tập trung cao độ: To concentrate intensely.
• Chúi đầu vào: To bury one's head in (something). (More colloquial and similar in imagery.)

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Đầu tắt mặt tối: This idiom means "busy from head to toe" or "extremely busy," often describing a hectic life of hard work. While "cắm cúi" describes the manner of working (absorbed), this idiom describes the demanding, non-stop state of being busy. They are related in describing diligence but from different angles.
  • Bố mẹ tôi đầu tắt mặt tối lo cho gia đình. (My parents are extremely busy taking care of the family.)

verb & adj

1. (To be) fully stretched, (to be) at full stretch
   • cắm cúi đi một mình trên con đường vắng
     he walked at full stretch by himself on the deserted road
   • cắm cúi viết
     to write at full stretch