Definition

1. Noun:

   • Pliers, pincers: A hand tool made of steel, consisting of two hinged arms with gripping jaws at the end, used for holding, bending, or cutting objects.
   • A type of fish: A species of saltwater fish with a long snout.

2. Verb:

   • To grip with pliers/pincers: To hold, squeeze, or manipulate something using pliers.
   • To restrain, to hold back, to suppress: To control, curb, or keep something in check, preventing it from moving forward or expressing itself freely.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Anh ấy dùng kìm để vặn con ốc. (He used pliers to twist the bolt.)
  • Ngư dân bắt được một con cá kìm. (The fisherman caught a garfish.)

• Verb:

  • Cô ấy kìm chặt sợi dây thép. (She gripped the steel wire tightly with pliers.)
  • Anh ấy phải kìm nén cơn giận. (He had to suppress his anger.)

Advanced Usage

• "kìm kẹp": To oppress, to clamp down on.

  • Chế độ độc tài kìm kẹp tự do ngôn luận. (The dictatorship oppresses freedom of speech.)

• "kìm hãm": To hinder, to hold back (development, progress).

  • Nỗi sợ hãi kìm hãm sự sáng tạo. (Fear hinders creativity.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kìm bấm (n): Wire cutter, diagonal pliers.
• Kìm mỏ quạ (n): Long-nose pliers, needle-nose pliers.
• Kìm cộng lực (n): Locking pliers, vise-grips.
• Kìm hãm (v/n): To restrain; a restraint.
• Kìm nén (v): To suppress, to hold in (emotions).

Synonyms

• Noun (Tool): Pincers, tongs.
• Verb (Restrain): Kiềm chế (to control), nén lại (to hold in), chế ngự (to subdue).

Related Phrases (Verb-Object Constructions)

• Kìm cương: To rein in, to draw the reins (literal); to control, to curb (figurative).

  • Người kỵ sĩ kìm cương ngựa lại. (The rider reins in the horse.)
  • Chính phủ tìm cách kìm cương lạm phát. (The government seeks to curb inflation.)

• Kìm hơi: To hold one's breath (literal); to be in a tense, waiting situation (figurative).

  • Cả khán phòng kìm hơi theo dõi màn trình diễn. (The entire auditorium held its breath watching the performance.)

Related Idioms

• Kìm như kìm kẹp: To grip very tightly, to clamp down hard (often figurative).

  • Luật mới kìm như kìm kẹp các hoạt động bất hợp pháp. (The new law clamps down hard on illegal activities.)

• Buông ra không được, kìm lại không xong: To be in a dilemma, caught between a rock and a hard place (lit.: can't let go, can't hold back either).

  • Tình thế tiến thoái lưỡng nan, buông ra không được, kìm lại không xong. (It's a dilemma, caught between a rock and a hard place.)

1. Pincers, pliers
2. Grip with pincers, grip with pliers
3. Draw
   • Kìm cương ngựa
     To draw the reins