mài nhẵn
Definition
- Verb:
- To sand smooth: The primary meaning of "mài nhẵn" is the action of using an abrasive material (like sandpaper) to rub a surface until it becomes even, level, and free of roughness.
- To polish smooth: It can also refer to the process of polishing or grinding a material (like wood, metal, or stone) to achieve a very smooth, glossy, or refined finish.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Người thợ mộc mài nhẵn bề mặt gỗ trước khi sơn. (The carpenter sanded the wood surface smooth before painting.)
- Viên đá này đã được mài nhẵn để làm mặt bàn. (This stone has been polished smooth to make a tabletop.)
- Bạn cần mài nhẵn các cạnh thô của kim loại. (You need to grind the rough edges of the metal smooth.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in technical, artisanal, and manufacturing contexts (carpentry, metalworking, stone masonry) to describe a crucial finishing step.
- It implies a result-oriented action where the primary goal is achieving a specific quality of smoothness ("nhẵn").
Variants and Related Words
- Mài (v): to grind, to sharpen, to sand. The core verb indicating the abrasive action.
- Nhẵn (adj): smooth, even, polished. Describes the resulting state.
- Đánh bóng (v): to polish, to buff. Often used for achieving a shine, which can be a subsequent step after "mài nhẵn."
Synonyms
- To sand smooth
- To polish smooth
- To grind smooth
- To smoothen (by abrasion)
Related Idioms
- : (Polished smooth as a mirror) – An expression emphasizing an extremely smooth, reflective finish.
- Mặt đá cẩm thạch được mài nhẵn như gương. (The marble surface was polished smooth as a mirror.)