Definition

1. Verb:

   • To call out; to shout: To produce a loud vocal sound to attract attention, express emotion, or communicate.
   • To make a sound; to ring: For an object, animal, or device to produce a characteristic noise (e.g., a bell rings, a bird calls, a machine beeps).
   • To complain; to lament: To express dissatisfaction, grief, or hardship verbally.
   • To call (someone); to summon: To request someone's presence by calling their name or title.
   • To address; to call (someone by a title): To refer to or name someone in a specific way (e.g., "He calls him 'uncle'").

2. Adjective:

   • Loud; resonant; sonorous: Describing a sound that is clear, ringing, or carries well.
   • High-sounding; flashy (of language): Describing words or style that are showy or impressive-sounding but often lack substance.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Mẹ kêu con về nhà ngay. (Mother calls the child home immediately.)
  • Chuông đồng hồ kêu. (The clock's bell rings.)
  • Cô ấy kêu mệt. (She complains of being tired.)
  • Nó kêu tôi là "chú". (He addresses me as "uncle".)

• Adjective:

  • Tiếng chuông ngân rất kêu. (The bell's chime is very resonant.)
  • Bài diễn văn dùng toàn từ ngữ kêu. (The speech uses only high-sounding words.)

Advanced Usage

• "kêu ca": to grumble, to complain persistently.

  • Anh ta suốt ngày kêu ca về công việc. (He grumbles about his work all day.)

• "kêu gọi": to appeal, to call upon (for action or support).

  • Chính phủ kêu gọi người dân tiết kiệm nước. (The government appeals to citizens to save water.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kêu cứu (v): to call for help, to cry for help.

  • Nghe thấy tiếng kêu cứu từ căn nhà cháy. (To hear a cry for help from the burning house.)

• Kêu than (v): to lament, to bewail.

  • Bà ấy kêu than về số phận của mình. (She laments her fate.)

Synonyms

• Call/Shout: hét, gọi.
• Sound/Ring: vang, reo.
• Complain: phàn nàn, than phiền.
• Resonant: vang, thanh.

Related Idioms

• Kêu như bò rống: to yell very loudly (lit. to shout like a bellowing cow).

  • Đứa bé khóc kêu như bò rống. (The baby cried at the top of its lungs.)

• Kêu trời không thấu: to complain to no avail; to feel one's complaints are unheard (lit. to call to heaven without it being heard).

  • Bị mất ví, anh ấy kêu trời không thấu. (Having lost his wallet, he complained to deaf ears.)

verb

1. to call; to cry
   • kêu tên
     to call the roll to knock; to sound