ngồi vắt chân
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To sit with one leg crossed over the other: To adopt a sitting position where one leg is bent and placed over the opposite thigh or knee, forming a shape reminiscent of the number "4" or the Chinese character for "five" (五).
- To sit cross-legged (in a specific style): This phrase specifically denotes a casual, often comfortable, sitting posture distinct from formal kneeling or sitting with both feet flat on the floor.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Cô ấy thích ngồi vắt chân trên ghế sofa khi đọc sách. (She likes to sit with her legs crossed on the sofa when reading.)
- Ngồi vắt chân lâu có thể khiến chân tê. (Sitting with your legs crossed for a long time can make your legs numb.)
- Anh ấy ngồi vắt chân chữ ngũ và uống trà. (He sat with his legs crossed (in the 'five' shape) and drank tea.)
Advanced Usage
- "ngồi vắt chân chữ ngũ": This is a more descriptive variant emphasizing the legs form the shape of the Chinese character "五" (wǔ), meaning "five". It is synonymous with the basic phrase and describes the same posture with a cultural reference.
- Cụ già ngồi vắt chân chữ ngũ dưới gốc cây. (The old man sat with his legs crossed (in the 'five' shape) under the tree.)
Variants and Related Words
Ngồi khoanh chân (v): to sit with one's legs folded, often with both feet tucked under or to the side, not necessarily one over the other.
- Các em nhỏ ngồi khoanh chân trên sàn. (The children sat with their legs folded on the floor.)
Ngồi bắt chéo chân (v): a more general term for sitting with legs crossed, very similar in meaning to "ngồi vắt chân".
- Hãy ngồi thoải mái, bạn có thể bắt chéo chân. (Please sit comfortably; you can cross your legs.)
Synonyms
- To sit cross-legged: The most direct general equivalent.
- To sit with legs crossed: A descriptive synonym.
- To sit in a figure-four position: A more technical description of the leg arrangement.
Related Idioms
- Ngồi rung đùi: To sit and shake one's leg (often indicating impatience or a casual attitude). This describes a different, often simultaneous, action but can be associated with informal sitting postures like "ngồi vắt chân".
- Đừng ngồi rung đùi như thế. (Don't sit there shaking your leg like that.)