Definition

Verb: 1. To collapse, to fall down (often suddenly or from exhaustion/weakness): Describes the action of a person or object falling forward, typically with the head or upper body dropping down, often due to fatigue, injury, or loss of strength. 2. To bow one's head down (often onto a surface): Describes the action of lowering one's head and letting it rest on something, such as a desk or table, often from tiredness, sleep, or despair.

Usage Examples

• (He was so tired that he collapsed onto the desk to sleep.)
• (The wounded soldier fell to the ground.)
• (She buried her head in her mother's shoulder and cried.)
• (After the punch, the opponent went down.)

Advanced Usage

• Ngủ gục: To fall asleep with one's head down (e.g., on a desk, table). This is a common compound phrase.
  • Học sinh ngủ gục trên bàn vì thức khuya học bài. (The student nodded off at the desk because he stayed up late studying.)
• Gục ngã: To fall down/collapse (emphasizing the falling action). Often used for people succumbing to force, illness, or emotional shock.
  • Công ty đã gục ngã sau cuộc khủng hoảng tài chính. (The company collapsed after the financial crisis.)
• Gục đầu: To bow/drop one's head (often in sadness, surrender, or exhaustion).
  • Nó gục đầu thừa nhận lỗi lầm. (He bowed his head in admission of his mistake.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gục gặc (verb): To nod (one's head) repeatedly, usually in agreement or to a rhythm. This is a separate word describing a different, repeated motion.
  • Cô ấy gục gặc đầu đồng ý. (She nodded in agreement.)

Synonyms

• Đổ (verb): To fall, to collapse (for structures or objects; for people, it's less specific than gục).
• Ngã (verb): To fall, to tumble (general term for falling).
• Cúi (verb): To bend down, to bow (a controlled action, not necessarily due to weakness).
• Quỵ (verb): To break down, to collapse (often from emotional or physical exhaustion).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Gục xuống: To collapse/drop down (onto something). Emphasizes the downward motion.
  • Nó kiệt sức và gục xuống nền nhà. (He was exhausted and collapsed onto the floor.)
• Gục đầu vào: To rest/bury one's head in/on (something).
  • Đứa trẻ gục đầu vào gối. (The child buried its head in the pillow.)

Related Idioms

• Gục tạ: (Literally: to collapse like a weightlifting bar). Used figuratively to describe someone failing completely or collapsing under pressure, especially in a competition or challenge.
  • Đối thủ đã gục tạ ngay từ vòng đầu tiên. (The opponent was knocked out/crumbled right from the first round.)

verb

1. to bend down
   • ngủ gục
     to nod