Definition

1. Noun:

   • The nape of the neck: The back part of the neck, where the hairline begins.
   • The spine of a book: The part of a book's cover that is visible when it is on a shelf, bearing the title and author's name.

2. Verb:

   • To crow: The sound made by a rooster, especially at dawn.
   • To coo or to chirp: The repetitive, often melodious sound made by certain birds, such as doves, or insects like crickets.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy cảm thấy lạnh ở gáy. (He felt a chill on the nape of his neck.)
  • Tên sách được in bằng chữ vàng trên gáy. (The book's title is printed in gold on the spine.)
• Verb:
  • Con gà trống gáy lúc năm giờ sáng. (The rooster crowed at five in the morning.)
  • Tiếng chim cu gáy vang lên trong rừng. (The sound of a dove cooing echoed in the forest.)

Advanced Usage

• "Gáy sách": This is a more specific term for the spine of a book.
  • Gáy sách đã bị rách. (The book's spine was torn.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cổ (n): The neck (the general term, including the front and sides).
• Cá gáy (n): A specific type of carp (fish). Note: This is a compound noun where "gáy" does not carry its primary meanings.
• Cu gáy (n): The spotted dove, named for its cooing sound.

Synonyms

• Nape: The back of the neck.
• Book spine: The back of a book.
• Crow: The cry of a rooster.
• Coo: The soft call of a dove or pigeon.

Related Idioms

• Nổi gai gáy: Literally "to have goosebumps on the nape," meaning to be terrified or horrified.
  • Câu chuyện ma làm tôi nổi gai gáy. (The ghost story gave me goosebumps / made my hair stand on end.)

noun

1. pape; scauff of the neck

verb

1. to crom; to coo; to chirp