Definition

1. Noun:

   • Detachable head (of an exam paper): A portion of an examination answer sheet containing the candidate's identifying information, which is detached before grading to ensure anonymity.
   • Vital spirit / astral body: In spiritual or folk belief, one of the spiritual components of a person, distinct from the soul ("hồn"); often associated with vitality and physical presence.
   • Castanets / clappers: A traditional percussion instrument consisting of a piece of bamboo or wood struck with two beaters.
   • Beat (in music): The basic unit of time in music; the pulse.
   • Way, manner, style: An individual's distinctive way of doing things.

2. Adverb (colloquial):

   • Boastfully, haughtily: Acting or speaking in a bragging, showy, or arrogant manner.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Giám thị sẽ rọc phách trước khi chấm bài. (The proctor will detach the identification head before grading the papers.)
  • Cô ấy sợ đến mức hồn xiêu phách lạc. (She was so scared that her soul drifted and her vital spirit was lost.)
  • Người nghệ sĩ gõ phách theo nhịp bài hát. (The artist taps the castanets to the rhythm of the song.)
  • Nhịp phách của bản nhạc này rất nhanh. (The beat of this piece of music is very fast.)
  • Mỗi người một phách, không ai giống ai. (Each person has their own way; no one is like anyone else.)

• Adverb:

  • Anh ta chỉ nói phách chứ không dám làm đâu. (He's just talking boastfully; he doesn't dare to actually do it.)

Advanced Usage

• "Rọc phách" / "Ráp phách": To detach / to reattach the identification head of an exam paper. This is a formal administrative procedure.

  • Sau khi rọc phách, bài thi được đánh số mã để chấm. (After detaching the identification head, the exam is coded with a number for marking.)

• "Phách mạnh" / "Phách nhẹ": Strong beat / weak beat in music.

  • Trong nhịp 4/4, phách thứ nhất là phách mạnh. (In 4/4 time, the first beat is the strong beat.)

Variants and Related Words

• Làm phách (verb phrase): To show off, to act arrogantly.

  • Đừng có mà làm phách với tôi! (Don't you dare show off with me!)

• Nói phách (verb phrase): To brag, to talk big.

  • Hắn nói phách là có thể làm được mọi thứ. (He bragged that he could do anything.)

Synonyms

• Detachable head: Identification stub, candidate number slip.
• Vital spirit: Astral body, perispirit, "vía" (in Vietnamese context).
• Castanets: Clappers, percussion sticks.
• Beat: Pulse, rhythm.
• Way: Manner, style, guise.
• Boastfully: Haughtily, braggingly, pretentiously.

Related Idioms

• Hồn xiêu phách lạc: To be terrified out of one's wits (literally: "soul adrift, vital spirit lost").

  • Nghe tiếng nổ, nó hồn xiêu phách lạc. (Hearing the explosion, he was scared out of his wits.)

• Chỉ phách thôi: It's just empty boasting / all talk and no action.

  • Anh ta hứa nhiều nhưng chỉ phách thôi. (He makes many promises, but it's just empty boasting.)

noun

1. detachable head

noun

1. way, manner
   • mỗi người một phách
     everyone has it his own way vital spirit. castanets. boastful, haughty