ghẽ
Definition
- Verb:
- To separate / to detach / to break off: The primary meaning of "ghẽ" is to pull or break something apart, causing its pieces or components to become distinct and separate from each other. It often implies a physical action applied to something that is naturally joined or clustered.
- To shell / to husk (specifically corn): In a specific agricultural context, "ghẽ" is used to describe the action of removing kernels from a corn cob.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Cô ấy ghẽ đôi cây gậy ra. (She separated the two sticks.)
- Chúng tôi ngồi ghẽ ngô. (We sat shelling corn.)
- Anh ấy ghẽ từng miếng bánh mì. (He broke off individual pieces of bread.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "ghẽ" is considered somewhat regional or literary in modern Vietnamese and is not extremely common in everyday speech in all regions. Its usage is most stable in the specific phrase "ghẽ ngô" (to shell corn).
Variants and Related Words
- Tách (v): A more common and general synonym meaning to separate or to take apart.
- Bẻ (v): To break or to snap, often with hands.
- Tước (v): To strip or to peel off (e.g., bark, fibers).
Synonyms
- Separate: To cause to move or be apart.
- Detach: To disengage and remove a part from the whole.
- Shell: To remove the outer covering or seeds from a pod or cob (e.g., corn, peas).
Notes on Usage
- "Ghẽ" is typically a transitive verb and requires an object. It describes a deliberate, manual action.
- It is important to distinguish "ghẽ" from similar verbs like "gỡ" (to untangle, to disentangle) and "tách" (to separate, often liquids or general items). "Ghẽ" carries a stronger connotation of breaking a clustered or attached unit into its individual parts.