Definition

1. Verb:

   • To fry: To cook food in hot oil or fat until it is cooked through and often crispy on the outside.
   • To render (down): To melt animal fat by heating it to separate the pure fat (lard) from the solid tissue.
   • To try; to endeavor: To make an effort or attempt to do something. (Note: This meaning is now considered somewhat archaic or literary; the more common modern word for "to try" is "cố gắng" or "ráng".)

2. Adverb:

   • Some more; a little longer: Used to indicate a continuation or extension of an action for an additional, often unspecified, amount.

Usage Examples

• Verb (to fry):

  • Mẹ tôi rán cá cho bữa tối. (My mother fries fish for dinner.)
  • Chị ấy rán đậu phụ đến khi vàng giòn. (She fries the tofu until it is golden and crispy.)

• Verb (to render):

  • Người ta thường rán mỡ heo để lấy nước mỡ. (People often render pork fat to get lard.)

• Verb (to try - archaic/literary):

  • Anh ấy hứa sẽ rán hết sức mình. (He promised he would try his best.)

• Adverb:

  • Đứa bé ngủ rán một chút nữa. (The baby slept a little longer.)
  • Hãy đợi tôi rán. (Wait for me a bit more.)

Advanced Usage

• "Rán sức": To exert one's strength; to try hard. This phrase uses the older, literary meaning of "rán".
  • Các vận động viên rán sức ở chặng đua cuối cùng. (The athletes exerted their strength in the final leg of the race.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ráng (verb): The more common modern form meaning "to try/endeavor". It is often used interchangeably in the effort-related sense, though "rán" in this meaning sounds more formal or old-fashioned.

  • Tôi sẽ ráng hoàn thành công việc. (I will try to finish the work.)

• Chiên (verb): A common synonym for "rán" meaning "to fry". "Rán" and "chiên" are often used interchangeably, though some regional or contextual preferences may exist.

  • Chiên trứng (To fry an egg)

• Cố gắng (verb): The standard, neutral word for "to try/endeavor".

  • Cô ấy cố gắng học tiếng Anh mỗi ngày. (She tries to study English every day.)

Synonyms

• Fry: Chiên, xào (stir-fry).
• Try: Cố gắng, nỗ lực, ráng.

Related Idioms

• "Rán sành ra mỡ": Literally "to render fat out of pottery", meaning to be extremely stingy or to go to great lengths to save every last bit. It criticizes excessive frugality.
  • Ông chủ đó nổi tiếng rán sành ra mỡ. (That boss is famous for pinching every penny / being extremely stingy.)

verb

1. to fry
   • rán cá
     to fry fish to render down
   • rán thịt mỡ
     to render (down) fat meat

verb

1. to try; to endeavour
   • rán hết sức mình
     to try one's best

adv

1. some more
   • ngủ rán
     to sleep some more