ngón tay cái

Người mẹ dùng ngón tay cái để giữ chặt cái bình.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Thumb: The shortest and thickest digit of the human hand, located apart from the other four fingers. It has two phalanges and possesses unique opposable mobility, enabling the grasping and precise manipulation of objects.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Tôi bị đứt ngón tay cái. (I cut my thumb.)
  • Anh ấy giơ ngón tay cái lên để biểu thị sự tán thành. (He gave a thumbs up to show approval.)
  • Đứa bé mút ngón tay cái. (The baby sucks its thumb.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ngón tay cái" in Measurement: Used informally as a unit of approximate length (roughly one inch).

  • Nước dâng cao khoảng hai ngón tay cái. (The water rose about two thumb-widths.)

• "Quy tắc ngón tay cái": Translates to "rule of thumb," meaning a practical, approximate method based on experience.

  • Quy tắc ngón tay cái là đổ nước cao gấp đôi chiều cao gạo. (A good rule of thumb is to add water twice the height of the rice.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngón chân cái (n): Big toe; the equivalent digit on the foot.
  • Ngón chân cái của tôi bị sưng. (My big toe is swollen.)

Synonyms

• Thumb: The primary and direct equivalent.
• Pollex: The technical/medical term for the thumb.

Related Idioms

• "Giơ ngón tay cái lên": To give a thumbs up; to express approval, agreement, or that something is good.

  • Giám khảo giơ ngón tay cái lên cho màn trình diễn. (The judge gave a thumbs up to the performance.)

• "Chỉ tay năm ngón": Literally "to point with five fingers"; figuratively to accuse or blame someone openly and directly.

  • Không có bằng chứng, anh không thể chỉ tay năm ngón vào tôi. (Without evidence, you can't point the finger at me.)