Definition

1. Verb:

   • To put on (an outer garment loosely): To place an item of clothing, typically an outer layer like a coat, jacket, or shawl, over one's shoulders without necessarily putting the arms through the sleeves or fastening it.
   • To don or to wear (in a casual, non-fastened manner): To wear an outer garment in a loose, often temporary way.

2. Verb (figurative/extended usage):

   • To assume or to cloak oneself in (a false identity or quality): To falsely take on a role, title, or characteristic; to pretend to have.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Trời lạnh, cô ấy khoác thêm một chiếc áo len. (It was cold, she put on an extra sweater.)
  • Anh ấy khoác áo vest rồi vội vã ra ngoài. (He threw on a suit jacket and hurried out.)
  • Đừng khoác lên mình danh hiệu mà mình không xứng đáng. (Don't assume a title you don't deserve.)

Advanced Usage

• "khoác lác": to boast, to brag. This is a common compound where "khoác" contributes a sense of putting on something false.
  • Hắn ta chỉ biết khoác lác về thành tích của mình. (He only knows how to boast about his achievements.)

Variants and Related Words

• Choàng (v): to drape, to wrap around (similar in meaning to "khoác" but can imply more wrapping action).
  • Cô ấy choàng khăn lên cổ. (She draped a scarf around her neck.)

Synonyms

• To put on: To place clothing on the body.
• To don: To put on an item of clothing.
• To throw on: To put on clothes quickly and casually.
• To assume: To take on (a role, appearance) often falsely.

Related Idioms

• Khoác áo choàng: Literally "to put on a cloak," often used metaphorically to mean to disguise one's true intentions or nature.
  • Hắn khoác áo choàng nhà từ thiện để che giấu hành vi phi pháp. (He cloaked himself in the guise of a philanthropist to hide illegal activities.)

verb

1. to put on
   • khoác áo
     to put a coat over one's shoulders