Definition

1. Verb:
   • To turn, to swerve: "quẹo" means to change direction, especially while moving (e.g., walking, driving). It is commonly used in Southern Vietnamese speech.
   • To bend, to become bent/crooked: "quẹo" can also describe something becoming physically bent or twisted out of its normal shape, often due to force.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to turn):

  • Xe buýt sẽ quẹo phải ở ngã tư tiếp theo. (The bus will turn right at the next intersection.)
  • Anh ấy quẹo vào một con hẻm nhỏ. (He turned/swerved into a small alley.)

• Verb (to bend, to become crooked):

  • Cây thước nhựa này dễ bị quẹo lắm. (This plastic ruler gets bent very easily.)
  • Cô ấy ngã và bị quẹo cổ tay. (She fell and twisted her wrist.)

Advanced Usage

• "quẹo qua" / "quẹo sang": to turn over to/towards (a side). Emphasizes the direction of the turn.

  • Hãy quẹo sang trái ở cột đèn đó. (Please turn to the left at that lamppost.)

• "bẻ quẹo": to bend something (often with force), to make something crooked.

  • Đứa trẻ bẻ quẹo cành cây. (The child bent the tree branch.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngoặt (verb): A more formal or Northern Vietnamese synonym for "to turn" (in the context of changing direction).
• Rẽ (verb): The standard, common word for "to turn" (e.g., while driving). "Quẹo" is a regional variant of "rẽ".
• Cong (adjective/verb): Bent, curved. Describes the state of being bent, whereas "quẹo" often implies the action of becoming bent.
• Chỗ quẹo / khúc quẹo (noun phrase): A bend, a turn, a curve (in a road, river, etc.).

Synonyms

• Rẽ: to turn (standard).
• Ngoặt: to make a sharp turn.
• Vòng: to go around, to make a U-turn.
• Lái sang: to steer to (a side).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Quẹo vào: to turn into (a road, driveway).
  • Xe tải quẹo vào bãi đậu. (The truck turned into the parking lot.)
• Quẹo ra: to turn out (onto a road).
  • Chúng tôi quẹo ra đường lớn. (We turned out onto the main road.)

Related Idioms

• (Bị) đánh quẹo tay/chân: to be beaten until one's arm/leg is injured or twisted. Can be used figuratively to mean being thoroughly defeated or outmaneuvered.
  • Đội nhà bị đánh quẹo tay với tỉ số 5-0. (The home team was soundly beaten with a score of 5-0.)
• Dẻo quẹo (adjective): Very flexible, pliable, or supple. Often used to describe materials or, figuratively, someone who is very agile or adaptable.
  • Sợi dây thun này dẻo quẹo. (This rubber band is very stretchy.)

verb

1. to turn
   • quẹo tay trái
     to turn to the left to distort
   • bị đánh quẹo tay
     to be beaten and get an arm distorted