Definition

1. Verb:
   • To move gently; to stir; to cause slight movement: "lay động" describes a light, often gentle, back-and-forth or swaying motion, typically from an external force like wind. It can also describe something that causes an emotional stir or movement in one's heart or mind.

Usage

• Lay động is used to describe physical movement that is subtle, gentle, and often repetitive (like swaying or stirring). It is not used for fast, violent, or purposeful movement.
• It is commonly used with natural elements (wind, water, light) as the subject causing the movement.
• It is also used figuratively to describe something that emotionally moves or touches someone, causing a stir in their feelings or thoughts.

Examples

• Verb:
  • Gió lay động những cành cây. (The wind stirred the tree branches.)
  • Ánh nến lay động trong đêm. (The candlelight flickered/swayed in the night.)
  • Câu chuyện cảm động ấy đã lay động trái tim tôi. (That touching story stirred my heart.)

Advanced Usage

• "Làm lay động": to cause to stir/move. This emphasizes the causative aspect.
  • Bài diễn văn đã làm lay động hàng nghìn người nghe. (The speech stirred thousands of listeners.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lay lắt (verb): to flicker feebly (often for a weak flame or light).
  • Ngọn đèn dầu lay lắt trong góc phòng. (The oil lamp flickered feebly in the corner of the room.)
• Chuyển động (verb): to move (a more general and neutral term for movement).
• Rung động (verb): to vibrate; to be emotionally moved/shaken (often stronger than "lay động").
  • Âm thanh lớn làm rung động mặt đất. (The loud sound made the ground vibrate.)
  • Tôi thực sự rung động trước vẻ đẹp của nơi này. (I was truly moved by the beauty of this place.)

Synonyms

• Dao động: to oscillate, to sway (can imply a more regular or periodic movement).
• Đung đưa: to swing (e.g., a hammock, a pendulum).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Lay động lòng người: to move people's hearts; to be emotionally stirring.
  • Bức tranh không chỉ đẹp mà còn lay động lòng người. (The painting is not only beautiful but also stirs people's hearts.)

verb

1. to move; to stir
   • gió lay động lá cây
     the wind stirred the leaves