Definition

1. Verb:

   • To divide; to separate; to partition: To create a physical barrier or division within a space or object.
   • To prevent; to stop; to hinder: To act as an obstacle to stop something from happening, spreading, or continuing.

2. Noun:

   • A compartment; a section; a partition: A separate section or division within a larger container or space, such as in a drawer, box, or room.
   • A drawer: A box-shaped storage compartment that slides in and out of a piece of furniture like a desk or cabinet.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to divide/separate):
  • Họ dùng một bức vách để ngăn căn phòng lớn thành hai phòng nhỏ. (They used a partition to divide the large room into two small rooms.)
  • Chiếc hộp này được ngăn thành ba phần. (This box is divided into three sections.)
• Verb (to prevent/stop):
  • Các bác sĩ đang cố gắng ngăn dịch bệnh lây lan. (The doctors are trying to prevent the epidemic from spreading.)
  • Không gì có thể ngăn tôi thực hiện kế hoạch này. (Nothing can stop me from carrying out this plan.)
• Noun (compartment/section):
  • Để sách vào ngăn trên cùng của giá sách. (Put the books on the top shelf/compartment of the bookcase.)
  • Chiếc cặp này có nhiều ngăn nhỏ. (This bag has many small compartments.)
• Noun (drawer):
  • Anh ấy cất giấy tờ vào ngăn bàn. (He put the documents in the desk drawer.)

Advanced Usage

• "ngăn cản": to obstruct; to impede; to hinder. This is a stronger, more formal synonym for the verb meaning "to prevent."
  • Luật pháp ngăn cản hành vi đó. (The law prohibits that behavior.)
• "ngăn nắp": (adjective) tidy; neat; orderly. Describes a state of being well-organized.
  • Căn phòng của cô ấy luôn rất ngăn nắp. (Her room is always very tidy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngăn kéo (n): drawer. This is the full, specific term for a furniture drawer.
  • Ngăn kéo tủ (cupboard drawer).
• Ngăn chặn (v): to block; to prevent; to thwart. Often used for stopping negative events or attacks.
  • ngăn chặn một cuộc tấn công (to thwart an attack).
• Vách ngăn (n): partition (wall); divider.
  • vách ngăn văn phòng (office partition).

Synonyms

• Verb: To separate, to partition, to divide, to prevent, to stop, to hinder, to obstruct.
• Noun: Compartment, section, division, partition, drawer, shelf.

Related Idioms

• Ngăn sông cấm chợ: (Literally: to block rivers and forbid markets). To create arbitrary obstacles and prohibitions; to hinder free movement and trade.
  • Chính sách đó chẳng khác nào ngăn sông cấm chợ. (That policy is no different from creating arbitrary prohibitions.)

verb

1. to divide; to part; to get apart. to prevent; to hinder; to stem
   • ngăn một bệnh truyền nhiễm khỏi lan ra
     to stem an epidemic

noun

1. drawer (of table)