cố chết
Definition
- Adverbial phrase:
- To try desperately / to strive with utmost effort: Describes making an extreme, all-out effort, often disregarding personal risk or cost. It implies a level of determination so intense it is as if one is willing to risk one's life.
- At the risk of one's life: An older or more literal interpretation, meaning to attempt something even when it poses a grave danger to one's survival.
Usage Examples
- Adverbial phrase:
- Nó cố chết học để thi đỗ đại học. (He studied desperately to pass the university entrance exam.)
- Các bác sĩ đang cố chết cứu bệnh nhân. (The doctors are striving with utmost effort to save the patient.)
- Người lính cố chết giữ vị trí. (The soldier held his position at all costs.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used hyperbolically in modern, everyday Vietnamese to emphasize extraordinary effort in non-life-threatening situations (e.g., studying, working, playing sports). The literal meaning of mortal danger is usually not present.
Variants and Related Words
Cố gắng (v): to try, to strive. A standard and common synonym without the extreme connotation.
- Cô ấy cố gắng hoàn thành bài tập. (She tries to complete her homework.)
Liều mạng (v): to do something recklessly, risking one's neck.
- Anh ta liều mạng lái xe vượt ẩu. (He risked his neck driving recklessly to overtake.)
Synonyms
- To try one's hardest
- To strive desperately
- To exert utmost effort
- At all costs
Related Idioms
- Cố đấm ăn xôi: To try hard for a desired reward, often with a connotation of stubbornness or gambling on an outcome.
- Nó cố đấm ăn xôi đầu tư vào dự án mạo hiểm. (He went all-in trying to profit from the risky project.)