Definition

1. Verb:

   • To crack, to fissure, to develop cracks: Refers to the process where a solid object or material develops small, often thin, lines or openings due to stress, pressure, or age, without necessarily breaking apart completely. It implies a state of partial failure or damage.
   • To become flawed, to show signs of strain or weakness: Used metaphorically to describe a system, relationship, or structure that is beginning to fail or show serious problems.

2. Noun (less common):

   • A crack, a fissure: The resulting line or small opening itself.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Bức tường bắt đầu nứt rạn sau trận động đất. (The wall began to crack after the earthquake.)
  • Mối quan hệ của họ đang nứt rạn vì những bất đồng. (Their relationship is cracking due to disagreements.)
  • Chiếc cốc sứ bị nứt rạn khi rơi xuống sàn. (The porcelain cup cracked when it fell on the floor.)

• Noun:

  • Những vết nứt rạn trên mặt đường cần được sửa chữa. (The cracks on the road surface need to be repaired.)

Advanced Usage

• "nứt rạn tình cảm": to have a rift in feelings, for a relationship to become strained.

  • Sau cuộc cãi vã, tình cảm giữa họ đã nứt rạn. (After the argument, their affection for each other cracked.)

• "nứt rạn niềm tin": for trust to be broken or to develop fissures.

  • Vụ bê bối khiến niềm tin của công chúng vào chính phủ bị nứt rạn. (The scandal caused the public's trust in the government to crack.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nứt (v, n): To crack; a crack. A more general and common term.

  • Vỏ cây bị nứt. (The tree bark is cracked.)

• Rạn (v, n): To develop a network of small cracks (like crazing in glaze); a network of fine cracks. Often used for ceramics, glass, or skin.

  • Da tay bị rạn nẻ vì lạnh. (The skin on the hands became chapped and cracked from the cold.)

• Vết nứt (n): A crack, a fissure. The physical mark.

  • Vết nứt trên kính chắn gió. (The crack on the windshield.)

Synonyms

• Nẻ (v): To chap, to crack (often used for dry ground or skin).
• Rạn nứt (v): A reversed form with the same meaning as "nứt rạn".
• Nứt toác (v): To crack open, to split open (implies a more severe break).

Related Phrases / Idioms

• "Nứt rạn như tổ ong": Cracked like a honeycomb (describes something full of cracks).

  • Bức tường cũ nứt rạn như tổ ong. (The old wall is cracked like a honeycomb.)

• "Lòng nứt rạn": A heart full of fissures (deeply hurt or broken-hearted).

  • Nghe tin ấy, lòng cô nứt rạn. (Hearing that news, her heart cracked.)

1. Crack, fissure
   • Hệ thống ấy nứt rạn khắp nơi
     This system is cracking everywhere