Definition

1. Intransitive verb:
   • To strive to come up or emerge from a lower position, especially from water; to make a strenuous effort to rise to the surface or reach a higher point.
   • To lunge or thrust oneself forward, often in an attempt to reach or grab something.

Usage

• The verb nhoai describes a physical effort involving the whole body, typically to overcome resistance like water or gravity. It implies a single, determined movement rather than a continuous action.
• It is often used with directional complements like lên (up), vào (into), or ra (out).

Usage Examples

• Intransitive verb:
  • Anh ấy đang cố nhoai lên khỏi mặt nước. (He is striving to come up above the water's surface.)
  • Đứa trẻ nhoai người ra để với lấy quả bóng. (The child lunged forward to reach for the ball.)
  • Cố nhoai vào bờ! (Strive to reach the shore!)

Advanced Usage

• "nhoai người": To lunge or thrust one's body forward.
  • Cầu thủ nhoai người đánh đầu. (The player lunged to head the ball.)
• The effort described by nhoai often suggests a moment of exertion to achieve a specific, immediate goal, such as getting out of water or catching an object.

Variants and Related Words

• Vươn (v): To stretch, to reach out. While vươn can be a smoother, more extended motion, nhoai emphasizes a more forceful, straining effort.
• Trườn (v): To crawl, to creep. This implies movement along a surface, whereas nhoai is more about an upward or forward thrust.
• Bơi (v): To swim. This is the general action of moving through water, while nhoai specifically refers to the effort to emerge from it.

Synonyms

• Cố vươn lên: To strive to rise up.
• Phóng người tới: To lunge forward.

Related Phrases (if applicable)

• Nhoai lên: To strive to come up.
• Nhoai tới: To lunge forward.
• Nhoai ra: To strive to get out.

Related Idioms

• While nhoai itself is not commonly found in fixed idioms, the concept is used in descriptive phrases about struggle and effort, particularly in aquatic or physically challenging contexts.

1. Strive to come up (from water)
   • Cố nhoai vào bờ
     To strive to reach the shore