Definition

1. Verb:
   • To tread on, to step on: To place one's foot down onto something, often with the implication of applying pressure.
   • To trample, to crush underfoot: To step on something repeatedly or with force, causing damage or destruction.
   • (Informal, figurative) To fail (an exam): A colloquial expression likening failing an exam to slipping on a banana peel.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đừng giẫm lên luống hoa. (Don't tread on the flower beds.)
  • Con voi vô tình giẫm nát chiếc xe đạp. (The elephant accidentally trampled the bicycle flat.)
  • Nó lo sợ sẽ giẫm vỏ chuối trong kỳ thi sắp tới. (He's afraid he'll fail the upcoming exam.)

Advanced Usage

• "giẫm đạp": To trample, to stamp on (emphasizes a violent or destructive action).
  • Đám đông hỗn loạn giẫm đạp lên nhau để chạy thoát. (The chaotic crowd trampled over each other to escape.)
• "giẫm phải": To step on (something), often accidentally.
  • Tôi đã giẫm phải một con ốc sên. (I stepped on a snail.)
• "giẫm lên": To step/tread on top of something.
  • Anh ta đã giẫm lên chiếc kính mát của tôi. (He stepped on my sunglasses.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dẫm: A common variant spelling of "giẫm". The meanings are identical.
  • Xe tăng dẫm nát mọi chướng ngại vật. (The tanks crushed all obstacles flat.)
• Giẫm is the base form. Related words often convey similar actions of stepping or pressing:
  • Đạp (v): To pedal; to kick; to step on (often with more deliberate force than "giẫm").
  • Xéo (v): To trample, to crush underfoot (often implies malice or contempt).
  • Nện (v): To stamp, to tamp down (e.g., soil).

Synonyms

• Dẫm: (See Variants) To tread, to trample.
• Xéo: To trample, to crush.
• Chà đạp: To oppress, to trample upon (figurative, for rights/dignity).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Giẫm lên vết xe đổ: To repeat someone's failure; to follow in someone's failed footsteps (idiomatic).
  • Anh đừng giẫm lên vết xe đổ của tôi. (Don't repeat my mistakes.)
• Giẫm chân tại chỗ: To make no progress; to be stuck in one place (idiomatic).
  • Dự án này dường như đang giẫm chân tại chỗ. (This project seems to be making no progress.)

Related Idioms

• Giẫm vỏ chuối: (Lit: to step on a banana peel) To fail, especially an examination (colloquial idiom).
  • Nó lo lắng sẽ "giẫm vỏ chuối" môn toán. (He's worried he'll "step on a banana peel" in math, i.e., fail the math exam.)
• Giẫm phải gai: (Lit: to step on a thorn) To encounter an unexpected difficulty or problem.
  • Công ty mới giẫm phải gai khi thị trường sụp đổ. (The new company stepped on a thorn when the market collapsed.)

1. Tread on, trample upon
   • Đừng dẫm lên luống hoa
     Don't tread on the flower-beds
   • Giẫm vỏ chuối (thông tục)
     To fail (in an examination)