Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cut down, to reduce, to trim: To make something smaller in size, amount, or length by removing a part of it. It implies a deliberate action to decrease or shorten something.
   • To curtail, to abridge: To shorten something, especially a text or speech, by omitting parts.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Chúng ta cần cắt bớt chi tiêu. (We need to cut down expenses.)
  • Biên tập viên đã cắt bớt bài báo cho phù hợp với không gian. (The editor cut down the article to fit the space.)
  • Anh ấy cắt bớt đoạn cuối của bài phát biểu. (He trimmed the end of his speech.)

Advanced Usage

• "cắt bớt cho vừa": to cut/trim to fit.

  • Cô ấy cắt bớt tấm vải cho vừa với khuôn mẫu. (She trimmed the fabric to fit the pattern.)

• "cắt bớt đi một nửa": to cut/reduce by half.

  • Họ quyết định cắt bớt đi một nửa ngân sách quảng cáo. (They decided to cut the advertising budget by half.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cắt giảm (v): To cut back, to reduce (often used for budgets, staff, production). This is a close synonym, sometimes used interchangeably, but can imply a more strategic or significant reduction.

  • cắt giảm nhân sự (to downsize staff)

• Rút ngắn (v): To shorten (primarily in terms of length or duration).

  • rút ngắn thời gian (to shorten the time)

• Giảm bớt (v): To lessen, to reduce. This is a more general term for making something less in degree or amount.

  • giảm bớt áp lực (to reduce pressure)

Synonyms

• Giảm: to decrease, to reduce.
• Thu ngắn: to shorten.
• Lược bỏ: to omit, to leave out.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As 'cắt bớt' is a single verb in Vietnamese, it does not have phrasal verb constructions like in English. The concept is contained within the verb itself.

Related Idioms

• "Cắt bớt đầu này, thêm vào đầu kia": (Lit. to cut from one end to add to the other) To rob Peter to pay Paul; to take from one area to supplement another, often without an overall gain.
  • Kế hoạch của họ chỉ là cắt bớt đầu này, thêm vào đầu kia. (Their plan is just robbing Peter to pay Paul.)

1. Cut down
   • Cắt bớt chi tiêu
     To cut down expenses