Definition

1. Noun:

   • Rope; cord; wire; string: A long, thin, flexible object made of twisted fibers, metal, or other materials, used for tying, connecting, or transmitting.
   • Vine; creeper: The long, slender, climbing stem of a plant.
   • A line or row of things: A series of similar items arranged in a line.
   • A unit of crockery: A set of ten bowls or plates.
   • A bond or connection: A link or relationship, especially an emotional or spiritual one.

2. Verb (dính dây):

   • To get smeared/soiled: To become stained or dirtied by something.
   • To get involved/entangled: To become implicated or involved in a troublesome matter.

3. Verb (for poultry):

   • To contract a disease (specifically for chickens): For a chicken to become infected with a contagious illness.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Cô ấy dùng dây thừng để buộc hành lý. (She used a rope to tie the luggage.)
  • Cần cắt tỉa những dây nho leo trên tường. (We need to prune the grape vines climbing on the wall.)
  • Trẻ em xếp thành một dây dài để vào lớp. (The children lined up in a long line to enter the class.)
  • Tình bạn giữa họ là một dây liên kết bền chặt. (Their friendship is a strong bond.)

• Verb (dính dây):

  • Áo trắng rất dễ dây mực. (White shirts easily get stained with ink.)
  • Đừng dây vào chuyện riêng của họ. (Don't get involved in their private affairs.)

• Verb (for poultry):

  • Con gà này có vẻ đã dây bệnh từ đàn khác. (This chicken seems to have contracted the disease from another flock.)

Advanced Usage

• "dây cót": mainspring (of a watch/clock).

  • Đồng hồ hỏng dây cót. (The watch has a broken mainspring.)

• "dây dưa": to drag on, to be prolonged (often of a problem or debt).

  • Công việc cứ dây dưa mãi không xong. (The work just keeps dragging on without being finished.)

• "giật dây": to pull the strings, to manipulate from behind the scenes.

  • Hắn chỉ là kẻ bị giật dây. (He is just a puppet being manipulated.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dây dợ (n): Various ropes and strings; often refers to miscellaneous cords or tangled affairs.
• Dây dưa (adj/n): Lingering, protracted; leftover bits (as of food).
• Dính dây (v): The verb form meaning to get stained or involved.
• Giây (n): A homophone meaning "second" (unit of time) or "inch" (unit of measurement).

Synonyms

• Sợi (n): Thread, filament (thinner than ).
• Chỉ (n): Thread (for sewing).
• Lạt (n): Bamboo strip (used for tying).
• Dây leo (n): Creeper, climbing plant (specific type of ).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Dây vào (v): To get involved in, to meddle in.

  • Anh ta không nên dây vào vụ kiện đó. (He shouldn't get involved in that lawsuit.)

• Dây mưa (v): To get caught in the rain.

  • Trên đường về tôi bị dây mưa. (On the way home, I got caught in the rain.)

Related Idioms

• "Rút dây động rừng": To pull a string and shake the forest; meaning a small action can cause large, unforeseen consequences.

  • Hãy cẩn thận, đừng để rút dây động rừng. (Be careful, don't do something that causes a chain reaction.)

• "Buộc dây vào người": To tie a string to someone; to create a bond or obligation with someone.

  • Lời hứa ấy như buộc dây vào người anh ta. (That promise is like tying him down.)

noun

1. rope; cord; wire; string
   • dây điện
     electric wire. (Anat) chord; cord
   • dây tủy
     the spinal chord