Definition

Verb: - To hide; to lie in hiding: To conceal oneself, typically behind or within something, to avoid being seen or detected. It implies a physical act of taking cover.

Usage

The verb nấp describes the action of intentionally placing oneself out of sight. It is often used with a prepositional phrase (e.g., nấp sau... - to hide behind...) to indicate the location of concealment. It conveys a sense of seeking shelter or cover.

Examples

• (The child hid behind the door.)
• (The thief lay hiding in the darkness.)
• (She hid behind her mother out of shyness.)

Advanced Usage

• Nấp bóng: To take shelter under someone's shadow or influence; to rely on someone else's power or reputation for protection.
  • Hắn ta chỉ biết nấp bóng ông chủ. (He only knows how to hide under his boss's shadow/influence.)

Variants and Related Words

• Núp (verb): A close synonym, also meaning to hide or take cover. The two are often used interchangeably, though núp can sometimes imply a more crouched or cowering posture.
  • Núp mưa (to take shelter from the rain).

Synonyms

• Ẩn nấp (verb): To hide, to lurk (often with a connotation of secrecy or prolonged hiding).
• Trốn (verb): To hide, to conceal oneself (with a stronger implication of avoiding someone or something, like in "trốn tìm" - hide and seek).
• Che giấu (verb): To conceal, to cover up (more general, can apply to objects or facts).

Related Phrases

• Nấp sau: The most common construction, meaning "to hide behind" (both literally and figuratively).
  • Nấp sau danh nghĩa (to hide behind a title/a name).
• Chỗ nấp (noun): A hiding place, a hideout.
  • Tìm ra chỗ nấp của kẻ địch. (To discover the enemy's hiding place.)

verb

1. to hide; to lie in hiding