Definition

1. Verb:
   • To lie down (briefly): The primary meaning of "ngả lưng" is to recline or lie down, typically for a short period of rest. It implies a temporary, often improvised, action rather than going to bed for a full night's sleep.
   • To take a quick rest: It conveys the action of leaning back or resting one's back against something to relax briefly, often during a journey or amidst work.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Trên đường đi xa, họ dừng xe để ngả lưng dưới bóng cây. (On the long journey, they stopped the car to lie down under the shade of a tree.)
  • Anh ấy mệt quá, chỉ cần ngả lưng năm phút là được. (He is so tired; he just needs to lie down for five minutes.)
  • Tôi thường ngả lưng trên ghế sofa sau giờ làm. (I often lie down on the sofa after work.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often carries a nuance of simplicity, hardship, or making do with available conditions. It is frequently used to describe resting during travel or in non-ideal circumstances.
  • Người lính ngả lưng ngủ ngay trên bãi cỏ. (The soldier lay down to sleep right on the grass.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nghỉ ngơi (v): to rest, to take a break. This is a more general term for resting.
• Tựa lưng (v): to lean one's back (against something). This focuses on the leaning action rather than fully lying down.
• Nằm (v): to lie down. This is the neutral, general verb for lying down without the connotation of a brief, improvised rest.

Synonyms

• To recline: to lean or lie back in a relaxed position.
• To take a nap: to sleep for a short period (emphasizes sleeping, while "ngả lưng" emphasizes the posture).
• To rest: to cease work or movement to relax.

Related Idioms

• Ngả lưng trên đống vàng: To lie down on a pile of gold (to be extremely wealthy but unable to enjoy it due to worry or work).
  • Ông ấy làm việc không ngừng, như ngả lưng trên đống vàng. (He works incessantly, as if lying down on a pile of gold.)
• Chỗ ngả lưng: A place to rest one's head (referring to one's home or a simple dwelling).
  • Sau nhiều năm, anh ấy mới có một chỗ ngả lưng ổn định. (After many years, he finally has a stable place to rest his head.)

verb

1. to lie down