Definition

1. Verb:

   • To take, to get, to obtain: To make something become one's own or bring something into one's possession.
   • To marry, to wed: To take someone as a spouse.
   • To use, to employ, to base on: To utilize something as a means, tool, or foundation for an action.
   • To extract, to remove: To take something out from a place or source.
   • To earn, to gain: To acquire something as a result of an activity.
   • To charge (a price): To ask for a specific amount of money in exchange for goods.
   • To measure, to adjust: To determine a precise value, measurement, or setting.

2. Particle (used after a verb):

   • Indicates direction/result: Emphasizes that the action brings a result for the subject.
   • Indicates self-reliance: Emphasizes that the action is done by the subject themselves, often paired with "tự" (self).
   • Emphasizes a minimum: Used to stress an extremely small or bare minimum amount.

Usage Examples

• Verb - To take/get:

  • Tôi lấy sách trên kệ. (I take the book from the shelf.)
  • Cô ấy lấy ví trong túi. (She gets the wallet from her bag.)

• Verb - To marry:

  • Anh ấy sẽ lấy vợ vào mùa xuân. (He will marry/take a wife in the spring.)
  • Cô ấy lấy một người bạn học cũ. (She married a former classmate.)

• Verb - To use/employ:

  • Hãy lấy ví dụ này để hiểu. (Please take/use this example to understand.)
  • Chúng ta nên lấy lý lẽ để thuyết phục. (We should use reasoning to persuade.)

• Verb - To extract/remove:

  • Bác sĩ lấy đạn ra khỏi vết thương. (The doctor extracts the bullet from the wound.)
  • Tôi cần lấy tiền ở ngân hàng. (I need to withdraw money from the bank.)

• Particle - Indicates result:

  • Nắm lấy cơ hội này! (Seize hold of this opportunity!)
  • Giữ chặt lấy tay mẹ. (Hold onto your mother's hand tightly.)

• Particle - Emphasizes minimum:

  • Nó không có lấy một xu. (He doesn't have even a penny.)
  • Hãy ở lại lấy vài ngày. (Stay for at least a few days.)

Advanced Usage

• "lấy cớ": To use as an excuse/pretext.

  • Nó lấy cớ bị ốm để nghỉ học. (He used being sick as an excuse to skip school.)

• "lấy lòng": To curry favor, to try to please someone.

  • Anh ta tặng quà để lấy lòng sếp. (He gave gifts to curry favor with the boss.)

• "lấy le" / "làm màu": To show off, to try to impress.

  • Mua xe đắt tiền chỉ để lấy le với hàng xóm. (Buying an expensive car just to show off to the neighbors.)

• "lấy... làm...": To take/consider something as something else. A common structural pattern.

  • Tôi lấy bạn làm gương. (I take you as an example.)
  • Họ lấy công làm lãi. (They consider the work as the profit [work for the sake of experience, not money].)

Variants and Related Words

• Lấy cắp / Ăn cắp / Ăn trộm (v): To steal.

  • Kẻ gian đã lấy cắp ví của tôi. (The thief stole my wallet.)

• Lấy lại (v): To take back, to regain, to retrieve.

  • Tôi muốn lấy lại số tiền đó. (I want to get back that amount of money.)
  • Cô ấy cần lấy lại tinh thần. (She needs to regain her composure.)

• Thu lấy (v): To collect, to gather (often for a purpose).

  • Thu lấy mẫu nước để xét nghiệm. (Collect a water sample for testing.)

Synonyms

• Verb:
  • Cưới: To marry (specifically refers to the wedding ceremony/act of taking a spouse).
  • Nhận: To receive, to accept.
  • Đòi: To ask for, to demand (especially for a price).
  • Rút: To withdraw (money), to pull out.
  • Dùng: To use.

Related Phrases / Patterns

• Lấy đâu ra: Where to get it from? (Expresses doubt about the availability of something).

  • Tiền đâu mà mua? Lấy đâu ra? (What money to buy it? Where would I get it from?)

• Lấy vợ / Lấy chồng: To get married (to take a wife / to take a husband).

  • Con trai họ đã lấy vợ. (Their son has gotten married [taken a wife].)

• Lấy phấn tô son: Literally "to take powder and apply rouge". Means to put on makeup.

  • Cô ấy lấy phấn tô son mỗi sáng. (She puts on makeup every morning.)

Idioms

• Lấy thịt đè người: To use one's strength/power to oppress others. (To bully).
• Lấy thúng úp voi: To try to cover an elephant with a basket. (To attempt the impossible).
• Lấy oán báo ơn: To repay kindness with enmity. (To bite the hand that feeds you).
• Lấy độc trị độc: To use poison to cure poison. (To fight fire with fire).

verb

1. to take
   • lấy bạn làm gương
     to take one's friend as an example to extract
   • lấy đạn ở vết thương ra
     to extract a bullet from a woundto wed ; to marry
   • Cô ta lấy nó vì tiền
     She married him for money
2. To carry out; to walk off
   • ai đã lấy cây viết của tôi
     Someone has walked off with my pen
3. To pull; to withdraw
   • lấy tiền ở ngân hàng ra
     to withdraw one's money from a bank by oneself