cốn
Definitions
Noun:
- (Architecture) Stringer, stair carriage: In architecture, a "cốn" refers to the inclined structural member that supports the treads and risers of a staircase. It is the side part of a staircase.
- (Rare) A bundle, a collection: A rarely used meaning referring to something gathered or bundled together.
Verb:
- (Rare) To bind together; to assemble: The act of gathering or fastening things into a single unit.
- To hinder by folding or tucking: To obstruct or cause difficulty by folding something in the way.
- (Reflexive: 'cốn lại') To mass; to gather; to assemble: Used reflexively to describe people or things coming together into a group or mass.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- Các bậc thang được gắn vào hai bên cốn. (The steps are attached to the two stringers.)
- Anh ta có một cốn giấy tờ cần xử lý. (He has a bundle of documents to process.) (Rare usage)
Verb:
- Người thợ cốn các thanh gỗ lại với nhau. (The craftsman bound the wooden bars together.)
- Chiếc áo bị cốn lại, gây khó chịu. (The shirt got tucked/folded in a way that caused discomfort.)
- Đám đông cốn lại trước cổng. (The crowd massed/gathered in front of the gate.)
Advanced Usage
- 'cốn cổ': This is a specific, idiomatic verb phrase meaning "to strangle" or "to throttle" by grabbing or pressing on the neck.
- Tên cướp định cốn cổ nạn nhân. (The robber tried to strangle the victim.)
Variants and Related Words
- Cốn cổ (v): To strangle, to throttle (as explained above).
- Kết cấu cốn thang (n): Staircase stringer structure (a technical compound term).
Synonyms
- Noun (Architecture): (stair beam), (stair joist).
- Verb (To assemble): (to gather), (to tie together).
- Verb (To mass): (to congregate), (to crowd together).
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Cốn lại (v): To gather/mass together (reflexive usage).
- Mọi người nhanh chóng cốn lại thành một nhóm. (Everyone quickly gathered into a group.)
Related Idioms