dẫn xác

Thân thiện

Anh ta cuối cùng cũng dẫn xác đến buổi họp.

Definition

1. Verb (informal, colloquial):
   • To show up, to appear, to show one's face: Used to describe someone arriving or making an appearance, often with a nuance of being late, unexpected, or after a long absence. The tone is casual and can range from humorous to mildly critical or sarcastic.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đi đâu mà giờ mới dẫn xác về? (Where have you been? Why do you only show up now?)
  • Cả tháng không thấy, hôm nay cuối cùng cũng dẫn xác tới. (Haven't seen you for a whole month, you finally decided to show your face today.)
  • Bữa tiệc sắp tan rồi anh mới dẫn xác tới. (The party is almost over and only now do you show up.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often implies the speaker's slight annoyance, impatience, or teasing regarding the person's late or infrequent appearance.
• It is primarily used in spoken Vietnamese among friends, family, or in informal contexts. Using it in formal situations or with superiors is inappropriate.

Variants and Related Words

• Dẫn thần xác (verb, informal): A slightly extended variant with the same meaning and usage as "dẫn xác."
  • Mấy năm rồi mới dẫn thần xác về thăm quê. (It's been years since you last showed your face to visit your hometown.)

Synonyms

• Xuất hiện (verb): To appear, to show up. (Neutral, formal/informal)
• Có mặt (verb): To be present. (Neutral)
• Lòi ra (verb, very informal/slang): To pop out, to show up. (More humorous or crude than "dẫn xác")

Related Idioms/Phrases

• While "dẫn xác" itself is a fixed colloquial phrase, it is used in similar contexts to the English idiom "to show one's face."
  • Cuối cùng nó cũng chịu dẫn xác ra đây. (He finally deigned to show his face here.)

Học thuật

1. (thông tục) (cũng nói dẫn thần xác) Show up, show one's face
   • Đi đâu mà giờ mới dẫn xác về?
     Where have you been? Why do you only show up now?