Definition

1. Verb:
   • To jump; to leap; to spring: To propel oneself quickly upward or forward from a surface by pushing off with the legs or feet.
   • To dance: To move one's body rhythmically, typically to music. (This usage is now considered somewhat dated or formal in modern Vietnamese).
   • To skip over; to omit: To pass over or bypass something, such as a section of text or a step in a sequence.
   • To mount; to mate (of male animals): (Specialized, zoology) Refers to the act of a male animal mounting a female for copulation.

Usage Examples

• To jump/leap:
  • Anh ấy nhảy qua con mương. (He jumped over the ditch.)
  • Đứa trẻ nhảy lên vì sung sướng. (The child jumped for joy.)
• To dance:
  • Họ thích nhảy vào cuối tuần. (They like to dance on weekends.)
• To skip over:
  • Đừng nhảy phần giới thiệu, nó rất quan trọng. (Don't skip the introduction; it's very important.)
• To mount/mate:
  • Con ngựa đực đang nhảy ngựa cái. (The stallion is mounting the mare.)

Advanced Usage

• "nhảy cóc": To leapfrog; to advance or skip over intermediate steps or ranks.
  • Anh ta nhảy cóc lên vị trí giám đốc. (He leapfrogged into the director position.)
• "nhảy việc": To job-hop; to change jobs frequently.
  • Cô ấy nhảy việc hai lần trong năm nay. (She has changed jobs twice this year.)
• "nhảy dù": (Literally: to parachute) To be appointed to a high position without going through the usual lower ranks.
  • Ông ấy được nhảy dù vào vị trí phó chủ tịch. (He was parachuted into the vice president position.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhảy nhót (verb): To hop, skip, or jump around (often implies playful, restless, or repeated small jumps).
  • Bọn trẻ nhảy nhót trên giường. (The children are bouncing/jumping on the bed.)
• Nhảy múa (verb): To dance (a more common and modern term for dancing than "nhảy" alone).
  • Mọi người đang nhảy múa trên sàn. (People are dancing on the floor.)
• Cú nhảy (noun): A jump; a leap.
  • Cú nhảy của vận động viên thật ngoạn mục. (The athlete's jump was spectacular.)

Synonyms

• Bật (verb): To spring; to bounce (often from a compressed position).
• Nháy (verb): To blink; to flicker. (Note: This is a different word, often confused due to similar spelling/pronunciation).
• Khiêu vũ (verb): To dance (ballroom or formal dancing).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Nhảy vào: To jump into; to intervene or get involved suddenly.
  • Cảnh sát nhảy vào ngăn cuộc ẩu đả. (The police jumped in to stop the fight.)
• Nhảy lên: To jump up; to surge (e.g., in price or position).
  • Giá xăng lại nhảy lên. (Gas prices have jumped up again.)
• Nhảy xuống: To jump down.
  • Nó nhảy xuống từ bức tường. (He jumped down from the wall.)

Related Idioms

• Nhảy lên nhảy xuống: To be agitated; to be restless or unable to keep still (often from anxiety or excitement).
  • Chờ kết quả, anh ta nhảy lên nhảy xuống không yên. (Waiting for the results, he was jumping up and down with anxiety.)
• Nhảy cẫng lên: To jump for joy; to be extremely happy or excited.
  • Nghe tin trúng số, ông ấy nhảy cẫng lên. (Hearing he won the lottery, he jumped for joy.)

verb

1. to dance
   • nhảy với người nào
     to dance with someone. to jump; to leap; to skip over
   • nhảy một đoạn trong sách
     to skip over a passage in a book