Definition

1. Noun:
   • Defender (in football/soccer): A player whose primary role is to prevent the opposing team from scoring goals. This position is typically located in the defensive line closest to their own goal.
   • Defensive player (in other team sports): A player assigned a defensive role in various team sports, such as handball or basketball, though it is most commonly associated with football.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy là một hậu vệ rất xuất sắc. (He is an excellent defender.)
  • Đội bóng cần mua thêm một hậu vệ trung tâm. (The football team needs to buy another center-back.)
  • Hậu vệ cánh phải đã cản phá thành công đường chuyền. (The right-back successfully intercepted the pass.)

Advanced Usage

• "đá ở vị trí hậu vệ": to play in the defender position.

  • Anh ấy thích đá ở vị trí hậu vệ hơn là tiền đạo. (He prefers to play in the defender position rather than as a forward.)

• "hàng hậu vệ": the defensive line; the group of defenders.

  • Hàng hậu vệ của đội chúng tôi rất vững chắc. (Our team's defensive line is very solid.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trung vệ / Hậu vệ trung tâm (n): Center-back. A central defender.

  • Trung vệ là xương sống của hàng phòng ngự. (The center-back is the backbone of the defense.)

• Hậu vệ biên / Hậu vệ cánh (n): Full-back / Wing-back. A defender who plays on the left or right flank.

  • Hậu vệ cánh trái có tốc độ rất nhanh. (The left-back has very high speed.)

• Hậu vệ quét (n): Sweeper. A defensive player who 'sweeps' up behind the other defenders (a less common role in modern football).

• Tiền vệ phòng ngự (n): Defensive midfielder. A midfielder focused on defensive duties, not strictly a but a related defensive role.

Synonyms

• Phòng thủ (n): Defense (the collective concept or act of defending).
• Cầu thủ phòng ngự: Defensive player (a more general term).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As 'hậu vệ' is a noun, it does not have phrasal verbs. However, common verbs associated with the position are: - Cản phá: To block, to intercept. - Hậu vệ cản phá pha bóng nguy hiểm. (The defender intercepted the dangerous play.) - Kèm người: To mark (an opponent). - Anh ấy có nhiệm vụ kèm người tiền đạo đối phương. (His task is to mark the opponent's forward.)

Related Idioms

Note: There are no common idioms specifically using the word 'hậu vệ'. General sports idioms related to defense include: - Xây bức tường thép (trong phòng ngự): To build an iron wall (in defense); meaning to have a very strong, impenetrable defense. - Hàng hậu vệ đã xây nên một bức tường thép. (The defensive line built an iron wall.)

1. Back (in football)