Definition

1. Verb:
   • To crush; to pound; to grind: To reduce a solid substance into very small particles or a powder by applying pressure or friction.
   • To study deeply; to pore over: To examine, read, or think about something with intense concentration and thoroughness.
   • To be addicted (to opium, etc.): To have a compulsive, habitual dependence on a substance, historically opium. (This usage is now dated/archaic).

Usage Examples

• Verb (to grind):
  • Cô ấy nghiền hạt cà phê thành bột. (She ground the coffee beans into powder.)
  • Máy này dùng để nghiền đá. (This machine is used to crush stone.)
• Verb (to study deeply):
  • Anh ấy nghiền ngẫm quyển sách triết học suốt đêm. (He pored over the philosophy book all night.)
  • Cậu học sinh đang nghiền bài để chuẩn bị cho kỳ thi. (The student is studying his lesson thoroughly to prepare for the exam.)

Advanced Usage

• "nghiền ngẫm": To ponder deeply, to contemplate or study something intently.
  • Ông ấy dành nhiều giờ để nghiền ngẫm về vấn đề đó. (He spent many hours pondering that problem.)
• "đọc nghiền": To read something with great care and attention to detail.
  • Muốn hiểu sâu, bạn phải đọc nghiền từng chương. (To understand deeply, you must read each chapter meticulously.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nghiền nát (verb phrase): To crush completely, to smash to pieces.
  • Chiếc xe bị nghiền nát trong vụ tai nạn. (The car was crushed in the accident.)
• Sự nghiền (noun): The act or process of grinding/crushing. (Less common).
• Thuốc nghiền (noun, historical/archaic): Opium prepared for smoking by an addict.

Synonyms

• Xay (verb): To grind (often with a mill, e.g., xay cà phê).
• Tán (verb): To pulverize, to crush into powder.
• Nghiên cứu kỹ lưỡng (verb phrase): To research/study thoroughly (for the "study" meaning).

Related Phrases (Compound Words)

• Khoai tây nghiền (noun phrase): Mashed potatoes (literally "ground potatoes").
  • Món khoai tây nghiền này rất ngon. (This mashed potato dish is very delicious.)
• Nhắm nghiền (adjective phrase): Describing tightly closed eyes.
  • Cậu bé nhắm nghiền mắt lại khi sợ hãi. (The boy tightly closed his eyes in fear.) Note: This is a fixed phrase where "nghiền" intensifies "nhắm".

Related Idioms

• "Nghiền như tằm ăn rỗi": (Literal: To grind/study like silkworms eating mulberry leaves). To study or work on something with relentless, voracious diligence.
  • Cô ấy học bài nghiền như tằm ăn rỗi. (She studied her lessons with relentless diligence.)

verb

1. to crush; to pound; to grind
   • nghiền vật gì thành bột
     to grind something to dust