Definition

1. Verb:
   • To open (a book), to unfold (a newspaper, a folded shirt, etc.): The primary meaning refers to the action of opening something that is closed, folded, or rolled up, typically to access its contents or to use it.
   • To pull, to employ (tricks, schemes): Used figuratively to mean to bring into action, to use, or to employ something, often with a negative connotation (e.g., tricks, bad habits).

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cô ấy giở sách giáo khoa ra học bài. (She opened her textbook to study.)
  • Anh ta giở tờ báo cũ để tìm bài viết đó. (He unfolded the old newspaper to find that article.)
  • Đừng giở trò đó nữa! (Don't pull that trick anymore!)

Advanced Usage

• "giở chứng": to act up, to show a bad side (often suddenly).
  • Con bé đang ngoan bỗng giở chứng khóc nhè. (The child was being good but suddenly acted up and started whining.)
• "giở quẻ": to turn nasty, to show one's true (unpleasant) colors.
  • Anh ta đột nhiên giở quẻ, không giữ lời hứa. (He suddenly turned nasty and didn't keep his promise.)
• "giở mặt": to turn one's back on someone, to betray.
  • Không ngờ hắn lại giở mặt với người đã giúp mình. (Who would have thought he would turn his back on the person who helped him.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trở (verb): A dialectal or stylistic variant of "giở" in some contexts, especially in the meaning of changing for the worse. (e.g., ).
• Mở (verb): To open. While "mở" is a more general term for opening (doors, boxes, meetings), "giở" specifically implies opening something that is folded, rolled, or layered (like pages, fabric).

Synonyms

• Mở ra: to open.
• Bày ra: to lay out, to display (often for something hidden or scheming).
• Sử dụng (in the "employ tricks" sense): to use.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Giở ra: to open up, to unfold. This is the basic form and is often used.
  • Giở bản đồ ra xem. (Open the map to look at it.)
• Giở trò: to play tricks, to act up.
  • Lũ trẻ lại giở trò nghịch ngợm. (The kids are playing tricks/misbehaving again.)

Related Idioms

• Giở máy chèo: Literally "to unfold the oar mechanism," meaning to start working hard or to begin a task energetically.
  • Công việc nhiều, phải giở máy chèo ngay thôi. (There's a lot of work, we must start working hard right away.)
• Giở nón ra mời: An old-fashioned expression meaning to show respect or hospitality formally.
  • Ông chủ giở nón ra mời khách. (The host formally welcomed the guest.)

1. Open (a book), unfold (a newspaper, a folder shirt...)
   • Giở sách ra đọc
     To open one's book and read
   • Giỏ áo ra mặc
     To unfold a shirt and put it on
2. Pull, make
   • Giở đủ mánh khóe
     To pull all tricks