Definition

1. Verb:
   • To prevent, to take precautions against: "ngừa" means to take action in advance to stop something undesirable from happening or to reduce its risk.
   • To guard against, to ward off: It implies a defensive action to avoid a potential danger or illness.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Phải ngừa bệnh từ sớm. (One must prevent disease early.)
  • Cô ấy uống thuốc để ngừa cảm cúm. (She takes medicine to prevent the flu.)
  • Chúng tôi đã có biện pháp ngừa cháy. (We had taken fire prevention measures.)

Advanced Usage

• "phòng ngừa": This is a common compound emphasizing proactive prevention. It is often used in formal or technical contexts like medicine and safety.
  • Công tác phòng ngừa thảm họa là rất quan trọng. (Disaster prevention work is very important.)
• Used in the sense of prophylaxis (a medical term for actions taken to prevent disease).
  • Ngừa thai means contraception (literally, to prevent pregnancy).

Variants and Related Words

• Phòng ngừa (v): To prevent, to take preventive measures. (This is a stronger, more formal synonym often used as a compound.)
• Ngăn ngừa (v): To prevent, to hinder. (Similar meaning, sometimes implying physical obstruction.)
• Đề phòng (v): To guard against, to take precautions. (Focuses more on the state of being cautious.)

Synonyms

• Phòng (v): To guard against, to prepare for.
• Tránh (v): To avoid. (While "tránh" means to dodge or evade, "ngừa" is more about proactive measures.)

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Ngừa trước: To prevent in advance.
  • Anh ta luôn ngừa trước mọi rủi ro. (He always prevents every risk in advance.)

Related Idioms

• "Ngừa bệnh hơn chữa bệnh": (Prevention is better than cure.) This proverb perfectly encapsulates the core meaning of "ngừa".
  • Hãy nhớ câu ngừa bệnh hơn chữa bệnh. (Remember the saying: prevention is better than cure.)

1. Prevent
   • Phương châm ngừa bệnh
     The principle of disease prevention, the prophylactic principle