Definition

1. Verb:
   • To crouch, to cower, to huddle: To bend down low, often to make oneself smaller or less visible, typically due to fear, shyness, or a desire to hide.
   • To press oneself against, to snuggle into: To position oneself closely and discreetly against something for shelter, concealment, or protection.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đứa trẻ sợ hãi nép vào lòng mẹ. (The frightened child huddled into her mother's embrace.)
  • Anh ấy nép người sau bức tường để quan sát. (He crouched behind the wall to observe.)
  • Cô ấy nép mình vào góc phòng, không muốn ai chú ý. (She pressed herself into the corner of the room, not wanting anyone to notice.)

Advanced Usage

• "Nép mình": To hide oneself, to take shelter. This is a common compound emphasizing the action of concealing or sheltering one's whole body.

  • Chú mèo nép mình dưới gầm giường. (The cat hid itself under the bed.)

• "Nép bóng": To take shelter in the shadow or protection of someone/something (often used figuratively).

  • Cây non nép bóng cây cổ thụ. (The young tree shelters in the shadow of the ancient tree.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rúm nép (verb/adjective): To cower timidly; to be timid, cowering. This is a reduplicative form that intensifies the meaning of fear and timidity.

  • Cậu bé rúm nép trước mặt thầy giáo. (The boy cowered timidly in front of the teacher.)

• Khúm núm (verb): To bow obsequiously, to cringe. While related to a submissive posture, it carries a stronger connotation of servility rather than just hiding.

Synonyms

• Thu mình: To shrink back, to withdraw into oneself.
• Ẩn nấp: To hide, to take cover (often with more active concealment).
• Co rúm: To curl up, to cringe (often due to cold or fear).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Nép vào: To crouch/snuggle into (a specific place).

  • Nó nép vào một góc tối. (It crouched into a dark corner.)

• Nép sau: To crouch/hide behind (something).

  • Tên trộm nép sau cánh cửa. (The thief hid behind the door.)

Related Idioms

• Nép bóng cờ đại bàng: To be under the protection/aegis of a powerful entity. (Literally: to shelter in the shadow of the eagle's flag.)

  • Công ty nhỏ nép bóng cờ đại bàng của tập đoàn lớn. (The small company operates under the aegis of the large corporation.)

• Nép lưng đồi: To be nestled against the hillside. (A descriptive phrase, often used in literature.)

  • Ngôi làng nhỏ nép lưng đồi. (The small village is nestled against the hillside.)

noun

1. to crouch