Definition

1. Noun:

   • A stick for beating: A tool, typically a stick, used to strike or beat something, most commonly a drum.
   • An awl, a punch: A pointed tool used for making holes, such as in leather or wood.

2. Verb:

   • To prick, to punch (a hole): The action of making a hole using a pointed tool like an awl.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Người nghệ sĩ cầm dùi và đánh trống. (The artist holds the drumstick and beats the drum.)
  • Anh ấy cần một cái dùi để đục lỗ trên tấm da. (He needs an awl to punch a hole in the leather.)

• Verb:

  • Hãy dùi một lỗ nhỏ ở đây. (Please prick a small hole here.)
  • Thợ đóng sách dùng dụng cụ để dùi lỗ. (The bookbinder uses a tool to punch holes.)

Advanced Usage

• "dùi cui": A police baton or club (a compound word listed separately as a variant).

  • Cảnh sát được trang bị dùi cui. (Police are equipped with batons.)

• "dùi trống": A drumstick (a specific compound term).

  • Dùi trống bị gãy trong buổi biểu diễn. (The drumstick broke during the performance.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dùi cui (noun): Baton, club.
• Dùi trống (noun): Drumstick.
• Dùi đục (noun): A punch or awl for chiseling/hole-making (often seen in the idiom ).

Synonyms

• Noun (stick): Gậy (stick), que (rod).
• Noun (awl): Mũi khoan (drill bit), kim đục (punch needle).
• Verb: Đâm (to stab), chọc (to poke), khoan (to drill).

Related Idioms

• "Đánh trống bỏ dùi": Literally "to beat the drum and then discard the drumstick." It means to start something with great enthusiasm but not see it through to the end; to quit halfway.

  • Dự án thất bại vì anh ta đánh trống bỏ dùi. (The project failed because he started it but didn't finish it.)

• "Dùi đánh đục, đục đánh săng": An idiom describing a chain of bullying or oppression, where the stronger bullies the weaker, similar to "the spider eats the fly, the lizard eats the spider."

  • Trong thế giới đó, luật là dùi đánh đục, đục đánh săng. (In that world, the law is the strong preying on the weak.)

noun

1. stick, awl awl
   • dùi trống
     A drumstick

verb

1. to prick
   • giùi lỗ
     to prick holes