Definition

1. Noun:

   • Back: The rear part of the human torso, extending from the shoulders to the hips.
   • Back (of an object): The rear or less important side of an object, such as the back of a chair or cabinet.
   • Half / Incomplete portion: A quantity that fills something only halfway or an incomplete amount.

2. Noun (figurative):

   • Capital / Resources: Financial resources or pooled effort, often used in the context of starting a venture.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Human/Animal Back):

  • Tôi chỉ thấy lưng của nàng thôi. (I only saw her back.)
  • Con hổ có sọc trên lưng. (The tiger has stripes on its back.)

• Noun (Object Back):

  • Tựa vào lưng ghế. (Lean against the back of the chair.)
  • Để sách ở lưng tủ. (Put the books at the back of the cupboard.)

• Noun (Half/Incomplete portion):

  • Uống lưng chai nước. (Drink half a bottle of water.)
  • Còn lưng bát cơm. (There's half a bowl of rice left.)

Advanced Usage

• "lưng chừng": halfway, midway, often referring to height or progress.

  • Dừng lại ở lưng chừng đồi. (Stop halfway up the hill.)
  • Công việc đang làm dở lưng chừng. (The work is left halfway done.)

• "chung lưng": to join forces, to pool resources (literally: to share backs).

  • Họ chung lưng góp vốn kinh doanh. (They pooled their capital to start a business.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thắt lưng (n): belt, waistband.

  • Cô ấy mua một chiếc thắt lưng mới. (She bought a new belt.)

• Lưng đồi (n): hillside, the slope or middle section of a hill.

  • Ngôi nhà nằm trên lưng đồi. (The house is situated on the hillside.)

Synonyms

• Back: the rear surface of the body.
• Rear: the back part of something.
• Midway: at a point halfway.

Related Idioms

• Thắt lưng buộc bụng: to tighten one's belt; to live frugally.

  • Gia đình phải thắt lưng buộc bụng để tiết kiệm. (The family had to tighten their belts to save money.)

• Chung lưng đấu cật: to join forces and work closely together; to unite in effort.

  • Cả đội chung lưng đấu cật để vượt qua khó khăn. (The whole team joined forces to overcome the difficulties.)

noun

1. back
   • tôi chỉ thấy lưng của nàng thôi
     I only saw her back
   • lưng chừng
     half-way