Definition

1. Verb:
   • To sip, to take a small drink: "nhắp" refers to the action of drinking a very small amount of a liquid, usually an alcoholic beverage, often slowly or in a tasting manner.
   • To nibble, to peck at: "nhắp" can also describe the action of an animal, especially a fish, taking small, tentative bites at bait or food.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to sip):

  • Ông ấy chỉ nhắp một ngụm rượu nhỏ. (He only sipped a small amount of wine.)
  • Khách đến chơi, mời nhau nhắp chén trà. (When guests visit, we invite each other to sip a cup of tea.)

• Verb (to nibble):

  • Con cá nhắp mồi nhưng chưa cắn câu. (The fish nibbled at the bait but didn't take the hook.)
  • Mèo con nhắp nhắp miếng thức ăn. (The kitten nibbled at the piece of food.)

Advanced Usage

• "nhắp mắt": This is a fixed, literary phrase meaning "to close one's eyes (to sleep)" or, idiomatically, "to get a wink of sleep".

  • Lo lắng quá, tôi chẳng nhắp mắt được. (I was so worried I couldn't get a wink of sleep.)

• "nhăm nhắp" / "nhắp nhắp": These are reduplicative forms that emphasize the repetitive, slight, or tentative nature of the action (sipping or nibbling repeatedly/lightly).

  • Nó nhăm nhắp ly nước, không dám uống một hơi. (He kept taking tiny sips of the water, not daring to drink it in one go.)

Variants and Related Words

• nhấp: This is a more common variant in modern Southern Vietnamese for the meaning "to sip". The meanings are largely interchangeable.
  • Anh ấy nhấp một ngụm cà phê. (He took a sip of coffee.)

Synonyms

• nhấp: to sip (synonym, regional variant).
• nốc: to gulp, to chug (antonym in manner; implies drinking a large amount quickly).
• gặm: to gnaw (for solid food; implies a more sustained action than "nhắp").

Related Phrases

• nhắp mồi: (for fish) to nibble at bait.
  • Cần phải kiên nhẫn khi cá đang nhắp mồi. (You need to be patient when the fish is nibbling at the bait.)

Related Idioms

• không nhắp được mắt: cannot sleep a wink; to be unable to sleep due to worry or disturbance.
  • Tin đó làm bà ấy lo đến mức không nhắp được mắt. (That news made her so worried she couldn't sleep a wink.)

verb

1. to sip

verb

1. to move slightly