Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Steep, vertical, sheer: Describes a slope, incline, or surface that is extremely steep, almost vertical, like a cliff or a wall.
   • Abrupt, precipitous: Describes a sudden, sharp, and steep change in elevation or gradient.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Sườn núi dốc đứng rất nguy hiểm để leo. (The sheer mountain slope is very dangerous to climb.)
  • Con đường phía trước là một con dốc đứng. (The road ahead is a vertical incline.)
  • Vách đá dốc đứng cao hàng trăm mét. (The precipitous cliff is hundreds of meters high.)

Advanced Usage

• "dốc đứng" in figurative use: Can describe a situation or trend that changes very sharply and rapidly.
  • Đồ thị thể hiện sự sụt giảm dốc đứng. (The graph shows an abrupt/steep decline.)
  • Công ty đối mặt với một khó khăn dốc đứng. (The company faces an abrupt/steep difficulty.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dốc (adj/n): Slope, incline, slanted. (Less extreme than "dốc đứng").
  • Con dốc này khá cao. (This slope is quite high.)
• Thẳng đứng (adj): Vertical, upright. (Emphasizes the vertical line more than the steepness of a slope).
  • Cột cờ đứng thẳng đứng. (The flagpole stands upright.)
• Đứng (adj): Standing, upright. (The root component in "dốc đứng" emphasizing the vertical quality).

Synonyms

• Dựng đứng: Standing upright, erected vertically. (Often used for man-made structures or hair "dựng đứng").
• Cheo leo: Precipitous, perilously steep. (Often implies danger and is used for mountain paths or locations).

Related Phrases / Idioms

(Note: "dốc đứng" itself is not commonly used in fixed Vietnamese idioms. It is primarily a descriptive adjective.) - Lên dốc xuống đèo: (Idiom) To go up slopes and down passes. Figuratively means to face many hardships and challenges in life. (This idiom uses "dốc" but not "dốc đứng").

1. Abrupt
   • Sườn núi dốc đứng
     An abrupt mountain slope