Definition

1. Verb:
   • To advise; to recommend; to instruct: To tell someone something they need to remember or do, often with care and emphasis. It implies giving instructions, counsel, or a reminder about an important matter.
   • To warn; to caution: To tell someone to be careful about something.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Mẹ dặn tôi phải mặc áo ấm. (My mother advised me to wear warm clothes.)
  • Anh ấy dặn tôi đừng về trễ. (He told me not to come home late.)
  • Cô giáo dặn học sinh học bài trước khi đến lớp. (The teacher instructed the students to study before class.)
  • Tôi dặn con phải cẩn thận khi qua đường. (I cautioned my child to be careful when crossing the street.)

Advanced Usage

• "dặn đi dặn lại": to tell someone something repeatedly for emphasis.

  • Bà ấy dặn đi dặn lại phải khóa cửa cẩn thận. (She told me again and again to lock the door carefully.)

• "dặn dò": to give advice or instructions (often used as a noun phrase "lời dặn dò").

  • Trước khi đi xa, anh ấy dặn dò vợ con đủ điều. (Before going away, he gave a lot of advice to his wife and children.)

• "dặn miệng": to give a verbal message or instruction.

  • Ông chủ dặn miệng nhân viên về cuộc họp. (The boss gave a verbal instruction to the staff about the meeting.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dặn dò (verb/noun phrase): to advise, to give instructions; advice, instructions.

  • Lời dặn dò của cha mẹ luôn có ích. (Parents' advice is always useful.)

• Căn dặn (verb): to instruct earnestly, to enjoin (stronger, more formal than "dặn").

  • Giám đốc căn dặn mọi người phải hoàn thành đúng hạn. (The director enjoined everyone to finish on time.)

Synonyms

• Bảo: to tell, to bid (less emphatic than "dặn").
• Khuyên: to advise, to counsel (focuses on giving counsel rather than an instruction).
• Nhắc: to remind (less forceful, often for something forgotten).
• Cảnh báo: to warn (stronger, often about danger).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Dặn trước: to tell/instruct in advance.
  • Tôi đã dặn trước là tôi sẽ đến trễ. (I told them in advance that I would be late.)

Related Idioms

• "Dặn như đinh đóng cột": to instruct very firmly, as if nailing something in place (to emphasize that instructions must be followed strictly).
  • Mẹ tôi dặn như đinh đóng cột phải về trước 10 giờ. (My mother instructed me very firmly to be home before 10 o'clock.)

verb

1. to advise; to recommend
   • lời dặn dò
     the recommendations