Definition

1. Verb:
   • To squat down slightly, to crouch a little: "dún" describes the action of lowering one's body by bending the knees, typically in a quick or light manner. It often implies a preparatory or subtle movement.
   • To give way slightly, to yield under pressure: "dún" can also mean to sink down or compress a little under weight or force, like a soft surface.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy dún người xuống để nhặt đồ. (She squatted down slightly to pick up the item.)
  • Tấm ván dún xuống khi anh ta bước lên. (The plank gave way a little when he stepped on it.)
  • Đứa trẻ dún chân vì sung sướng. (The child bounced on its feet with joy.)

Advanced Usage

• "dún dẩy": to bounce or jiggle up and down lightly.
  • Chiếc giường cũ kêu cót két và dún dẩy. (The old bed creaked and jiggled.)
• "dún mình": to crouch or shrink oneself down, often to hide or avoid something.
  • Nó dún mình xuống sau bụi cây. (He crouched down behind the bush.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhún (Standard Vietnamese): The standard synonym for "dún," meaning to squat, crouch, or yield slightly.
  • Nhún vai (to shrug one's shoulders).
  • Nhún nhảy (to bounce, to hop).
• Ngồi xổm: to squat fully (a more complete and stationary squatting position).
• Khụy gối: to buckle at the knees, to give way at the knees (often from weakness or shock).

Synonyms

• Ngồi thụp xuống: to plop down into a squat.
• Lún xuống: to sink down (often into a soft material like mud or sand).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As "dún" is a verb describing a specific physical action, it does not commonly form phrasal verbs in the same way as English. Its meaning is often combined with other words to form descriptive phrases, as shown in "Advanced Usage".

Related Idioms

• Dún dẩy như thạch: to wobble/jiggle like jelly.
  • Món tráng miệng đó dún dẩy như thạch. (That dessert wobbles like jelly.)
• Cười dún cả mắt: to laugh so much that one's eyes crinkle/squint.
  • Nghe chuyện cười, bà cụ cười dún cả mắt. (Hearing the joke, the old lady laughed until her eyes crinkled.)

1. (địa phương) như nhúm