Definition

1. Verb:

   • To fall; to tumble down: To move suddenly and unintentionally from a higher to a lower position, typically due to losing one's balance.
   • To fall (in battle); to perish: A formal or euphemistic term meaning to die, especially in the context of combat or sacrifice.
   • To succumb; to fall morally: To fail to maintain one's principles, willpower, or spirit when faced with external pressures or temptations.

2. Noun:

   • Crossroads; junction: A point where two or more roads, paths, or rivers meet and diverge.
   • The "ngã" tone: The name of one of the six tones in the Vietnamese language, marked by the diacritic " ~ ".

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Đứa bé bị ngã. (The child fell.)
  • Nhiều chiến sĩ đã ngã xuống vì tổ quốc. (Many soldiers fell for their homeland.)
  • Anh ấy đã ngã trước những lời dụ dỗ. (He succumbed to the temptations.)

• Noun:

  • Rẽ phải ở ngã tư phía trước. (Turn right at the crossroads ahead.)
  • Chữ "cũng" được viết với dấu ngã. (The word "cũng" is written with the "ngã" tone mark.)

Advanced Usage

• "ngã giá": to agree on a price; to settle a deal.

  • Hai bên đã ngã giá sau một hồi mặc cả. (The two parties settled on a price after some bargaining.)

• "ngã lòng": to become disheartened; to lose heart.

  • Đừng ngã lòng trước khó khăn. (Don't lose heart in the face of difficulty.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngã ba (n): a three-way junction; a fork in the road.

  • Xe hỏng máy ngay tại ngã ba. (The car broke down right at the fork in the road.)

• Ngã tư (n): a four-way intersection; a crossroads.

• Ngã năm (n): a five-way intersection.
• Ngã nhào (v): to tumble down; to fall headlong.
  • Ông trượt chân và ngã nhào xuống cầu thang. (He slipped and tumbled down the stairs.)

Synonyms

• Verb: To fall, to topple, to collapse, to perish, to succumb.
• Noun: Intersection, junction, fork.

Related Idioms

• Chị ngã em nâng: Literally "When the older sister falls, the younger sister lifts her up." An idiom expressing solidarity and mutual support among siblings or close people.

  • Tình chị em nên có tinh thần "chị ngã em nâng". (Sisterhood should embody the spirit of mutual support.)

• Thấy sóng cả mà ngã tay chèo: Literally "To see big waves and drop the oar." An idiom meaning to give up or lose heart when faced with great difficulty.

  • Một nhà lãnh đạo giỏi không bao giờ thấy sóng cả mà ngã tay chèo. (A good leader never gives up when faced with big challenges.)

verb

1. to fall; to tumble down
   • ngã xuống đất
     to fall to the ground. crossroads
   • ngã tư
     a four way crossroads