Definition

Verb: * To crane (one's neck): To stretch one's neck upward or forward, typically to see something better or to look at something with curiosity or effort. This verb almost always implies the action of the neck and is often used with "cổ" (neck).

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đứa trẻ nghển cổ lên để nhìn qua cửa sổ. (The child craned its neck to look out the window.)
  • Cô ấy phải nghển người lên mới với tới kệ sách trên cao. (She had to crane herself up to reach the high bookshelf.)
  • Mọi người đều nghển cổ nhìn theo đoàn diễu hành. (Everyone craned their necks to watch the parade go by.)

Advanced Usage

• "nghển cổ": This is the most common and natural collocation, explicitly meaning "to crane one's neck."
  • Anh ta nghển cổ nhìn lên tòa nhà chọc trời. (He craned his neck to look up at the skyscraper.)
• The verb can sometimes be used with "người" (body) to imply stretching the whole upper body, not just the neck, to achieve a better view or reach.

Variants and Related Words

• Nghển cổ (verb phrase): The standard phrase meaning "to crane one's neck."
• Ngẩng (verb): To raise or lift (one's head). While "ngẩng" focuses on the head, "nghển" focuses on the stretching action of the neck.
  • Ngẩng đầu lên (Raise your head up).
• Vươn (verb): To stretch, to extend. It has a broader meaning and can apply to limbs or the body.
  • Vươn vai (To stretch one's shoulders/arms).

Synonyms

• To stretch one's neck: A more literal synonym.
• To peer: (To look closely or with difficulty). This focuses more on the looking action that often accompanies "nghển."
• To strain one's neck: Implies effort, which is often present when craning.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Nghển cổ lên mà trông/ngó: A common, slightly informal phrase meaning "Crane your neck up to look/see." It emphasizes the effort involved in trying to see something.
  • Cậu phải nghển cổ lên mà trông mới thấy được. (You have to crane your neck to look in order to see it.)

verb

1. to crane