nước bài
Definition
- Noun:
- A card play / a move in a card game: The specific action of playing a single card from one's hand during a card game, following the rules and strategy of that game.
- A trick / a stratagem / a maneuver (figurative): A clever method, tactic, or planned action used to achieve a goal, especially in a competitive situation like business, politics, or negotiation. It implies a calculated move within a broader strategy.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Anh ta đang suy nghĩ về nước bài tiếp theo. (He is thinking about his next card play.)
- Đối thủ vừa ra một nước bài rất cao tay. (The opponent just made a very skillful move.)
- Đó là một nước bài mạo hiểm trong đàm phán. (That was a risky maneuver in the negotiation.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is deeply rooted in card game terminology but is most commonly used in modern Vietnamese in its figurative sense to discuss tactics.
- It often carries a connotation of cunning, cleverness, or strategic foresight, similar to "a play" or "a move" in English.
Variants and Related Words
Bài (n): card; playing card.
- Chúng tôi chơi bài mỗi tối. (We play cards every evening.)
Đánh bài (v): to play cards.
- Họ ngồi đánh bài cả buổi. (They sat playing cards all afternoon.)
Synonyms
- Move: an action taken to advance a strategy.
- Tactic: a planned action to achieve a short-term goal.
- Stratagem: a clever scheme or maneuver.
- Ploy: a cunning plan to gain an advantage.
Related Idioms
Lật bài ngửa: to reveal one's hand/cards; to show one's true intentions or plans.
- Đã đến lúc phải lật bài ngửa. (It's time to reveal our hand.)
Giấu bài: to hide one's cards; to conceal one's plans or capabilities.
- Anh ấy rất giỏi trong việc giấu bài. (He is very good at hiding his cards.)