cời
Definition
Verb:
- To poke or stir (a fire): The primary meaning of "cời" is to prod, stir, or stoke a fire, often with a tool, to make it burn better.
- To provoke or incite: In a figurative sense, "cời" can mean to stir up or incite a situation, often negatively, similar to poking a fire.
Adjective (colloquial):
- Of poor quality; in bad condition: Used to describe something that is shoddy, broken down, or not working properly.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ấy dùng que để cời bếp lửa lên. (He used a stick to poke the fire.)
- Đừng cời chuyện cũ làm gì. (Don't stir up old matters.)
- Adjective:
- Cái xe này cời quá, chạy được vài hôm lại hỏng. (This bike is too shoddy; it breaks down after just a few days.)
Advanced Usage
- The verb form is often used in the context of managing a traditional wood or coal fire. The adjective form is highly colloquial and informal.
Variants and Related Words
- Cời cọc (adj): Emphasizes something being very poor in quality or utterly broken.
- Đồng hồ này cời cọc, không sửa được. (This watch is completely broken and can't be fixed.)
Synonyms
- Verb: To poke, to stoke, to prod, to incite.
- Adjective: Shoddy, junky, defective, broken-down.
Related Idioms
- Cời lửa tắt đèn: Literally "to poke the fire and turn off the lamp," implying actions that are contradictory or cause trouble.
- Hành động của hắn chẳng khác nào cời lửa tắt đèn. (His actions are nothing short of poking the fire and turning off the lamp [creating a contradictory mess].)