ngã chúi
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To fall headlong / to fall headfirst: To tumble or plunge forward with the head leading the descent, often implying a lack of control and a risk of injury.
- To take a header: A colloquial expression for falling forward, typically with the head striking the ground first.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Cậu bé trượt chân trên cầu thang và ngã chúi xuống đất. (The boy slipped on the stairs and fell headlong to the ground.)
- Cô ấy vấp phải rễ cây và ngã chúi về phía trước. (She tripped over a tree root and took a header forward.)
- Anh ta ngã chúi khỏi xe đạp. (He fell headfirst off the bicycle.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often describes a sudden, uncontrolled fall where the person's momentum carries them forward onto their head or face. It emphasizes the direction (forward) and the dangerous nature of the fall.
Variants and Related Words
- Ngã nhào (v): To fall forward or tumble down; can be less specific about the head leading the fall.
- Ông ấy ngã nhào xuống sàn. (He tumbled down onto the floor.)
- Ngã sấp mặt (v): To fall flat on one's face.
- Nó ngã sấp mặt xuống bùn. (He fell flat on his face into the mud.)
Synonyms
- To plunge headfirst: To fall or jump with the head going first.
- To pitch forward: To fall or be thrown forward suddenly.
Related Idioms
- While "ngã chúi" itself is a descriptive phrase, it is used in contexts similar to the English idiom "to take a nosedive", which can mean both a literal headfirst fall and a figurative sudden decline or failure.