Definition

1. Verb:
   • To bolt a door: The primary meaning of "gài cửa" is to secure a door by sliding a bolt or latch into a fastening, preventing it from being opened from the outside.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Trước khi đi ngủ, nhớ gài cửa cẩn thận. (Before going to sleep, remember to bolt the door carefully.)
  • Cửa đã được gài, không thể mở từ bên ngoài. (The door has been bolted; it cannot be opened from the outside.)

Advanced Usage

• "gài cửa then cài": This is a more descriptive phrase emphasizing the action of sliding the bolt ("then") into its catch ("cài").
  • Anh ta gài cửa then cài chắc chắn. (He securely bolted the door.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cài then (v): to slide a bolt. This is a close synonym, often focusing on the bolt itself.

  • Cài then cửa lại cho an toàn. (Slide the door bolt for safety.)

• Đóng cửa (v): to close a door. This is a more general term that does not specify locking or bolting.

Synonyms

• To latch a door: To fasten a door with a simple mechanical catch.
• To lock a door: A more general term for securing a door, which may involve a bolt, key, or other mechanism.

Related Idioms

• Gài bẫy: to set a trap. While not directly related to doors, it uses the same base verb "gài" (to set, to fix in place) in a metaphorical sense.
  • Họ gài bẫy để bắt tên trộm. (They set a trap to catch the thief.)

verb

1. to bolt a door