Definition

1. Noun:
   • A rocky rapid or a stretch of river with a rocky, turbulent, and shallow bottom: "ghềnh" refers to a shallow, rocky, and often turbulent section of a river or stream, characterized by exposed rocks and fast, churning water. It is less intense than a waterfall ("thác") but presents a significant obstacle to navigation.
   • (In chess) The act of moving a pawn or bishop from the baseline forward: In the game of Chinese chess ("cờ tướng"), "ghềnh" is a verb describing the specific move of advancing a pawn ("quân sĩ") or bishop ("quân tượng") from its starting position on the baseline.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Geographical Feature):

  • Đoạn sông này có nhiều ghềnh hiểm trở. (This section of the river has many dangerous rapids.)
  • Thuyền của họ bị mắc kẹt tại một cái ghềnh. (Their boat got stuck on a rocky rapid.)

• Verb (Chess Move):

  • Đến lượt, anh ấy ghềnh quân tượng lên. (On his turn, he moved his bishop forward from the baseline.)
  • Chiến thuật ghềnh quân sĩ có thể tạo thế tấn công bất ngờ. (The tactic of advancing the pawn from the baseline can create a surprise attack.)

Advanced Usage

• "lên thác xuống ghềnh": To go up waterfalls and down rapids. This idiom is used metaphorically to describe experiencing many hardships, dangers, and ups and downs in life or a journey.
  • Cuộc đời ông ấy trải qua bao phen lên thác xuống ghềnh. (His life has gone through many periods of hardship and danger.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thác (noun): Waterfall. A steep, vertical fall of water, which is more intense than a "ghềnh".
• Gành (noun): A regional or less common variant with a similar meaning to "ghềnh" as a rocky rapid or shore. Note: In some southern dialects, "gành" can also mean a rocky promontory or cape by the sea.

Synonyms

• Rapid (for the geographical feature): A fast-flowing and turbulent part of a river, often with rocks.
• Whitewater (for the geographical feature): Churning, frothy water in rivers, often associated with rapids.

Related Phrases

• Vượt ghềnh (verb phrase): To navigate or pass through a rocky rapid. Can be used literally or metaphorically.
  • Con thuyền nhỏ đang cố gắng vượt ghềnh. (The small boat is trying to navigate the rapid.)
  • Công ty đang phải vượt qua nhiều ghềnh trong giai đoạn khó khăn. (The company is having to navigate many obstacles during this difficult period.)

Related Idioms

• "lên thác xuống ghềnh": As mentioned above, this is the primary and most common idiom. It vividly illustrates a journey or life filled with extreme difficulties and challenges.
  • Hành trình khám phá của họ thực sự là lên thác xuống ghềnh. (Their exploration journey was truly an arduous one, full of perils.)

noun

1. fall; waterfall; whirlpool
   • lên thác xuống ghềnh
     up hill and down dale