Definition

1. Verb:
   • To lean on; to stand against: To place something or oneself against a surface or object for physical support.
   • To rely on; to depend on: To use someone or something as a source of support, help, or basis for action.
   • To base on; to refer to: To use something as a foundation, model, or point of reference.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Physical Support):
  • Cô ấy dựa vào tường để nghỉ ngơi. (She leaned against the wall to rest.)
  • Đừng dựa chiếc xe đạp vào cửa kính. (Don't lean the bicycle against the glass door.)
• Verb (Rely/Depend):
  • Chúng tôi luôn dựa vào sự giúp đỡ của hàng xóm. (We always rely on our neighbors' help.)
  • Anh ấy dựa hoàn toàn vào thu nhập từ công việc tự do. (He depends entirely on income from freelance work.)
• Verb (Base/Refer):
  • Báo cáo này dựa trên dữ liệu mới nhất. (This report is based on the latest data.)
  • Hãy dựa vào bản đồ để tìm đường. (Refer to the map to find the way.)

Advanced Usage

• "dựa dẫm": To rely on excessively; to be overly dependent (often with a negative connotation).
  • Anh ta không nên dựa dẫm vào gia đình mãi. (He shouldn't rely on his family forever.)
• "có chỗ dựa": To have support/a backbone; to have someone or something to rely on.
  • Trong khó khăn, cô ấy cảm thấy may mắn vì có chỗ dựa vững chắc. (In difficult times, she feels fortunate to have solid support.)
• "dựa hơi": (Colloquial) To rely on someone's influence or power; to seek refuge or advantage through association.
  • Hắn chỉ là kẻ dựa hơi người khác để sống. (He's just someone who lives off others' influence.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tựa (verb): A near-synonym often used interchangeably with dựa for "to lean on."
  • Ông cụ tựa lưng vào ghế. (The old man leaned back in the chair.)
• Ỷ lại (verb): To be dependent; to rely on (usually carries a negative tone of passivity).
  • Tính ỷ lại sẽ cản trở sự phát triển của bạn. (A dependent attitude will hinder your development.)
• Căn cứ (verb/noun): To base on; basis. More formal, often used for official or logical foundations.
  • Căn cứ vào hiến pháp, điều đó là bất hợp pháp. (Based on the constitution, that is illegal.)

Synonyms

• Nương tựa: To lean on for shelter or support (often emotional).
• Trông cậy: To count on; to look to for help.
• Dựa vào = Dựa trên: To base on (often used interchangeably).

Related Phrases (Verb + Particle)

• Dựa vào: This is the standard and most common form, used for all meanings (lean on, rely on, base on).
  • Dựa vào kinh nghiệm để đưa ra quyết định. (Rely on experience to make a decision.)
• Dựa theo: To follow according to; to base on (a model, rule, or example).
  • Bài hát được sáng tác dự theo một giai điệu dân ca. (The song was composed based on a folk melody.)
• Dựa hẳn vào: To rely completely/heavily on.
  • Công ty dựa hẳn vào thị trường nội địa. (The company relies heavily on the domestic market.)

Related Idioms

• "Dựa cột mà nghe": (Literally: Lean against a pillar and listen). An idiom meaning to listen attentively and respectfully, often to elders or experts.
  • Khi bà kể chuyện, lũ trẻ dựa cột mà nghe. (When she told stories, the children listened with rapt attention.)
• "Chim có tổ, người có tông" / "Cây có cội, nước có nguồn": (Birds have nests, people have ancestry / Trees have roots, water has a source). These proverbs emphasize the importance of having origins and something to rely on (dựa), like family or heritage.

verb

1. to lean on; to stand against