rình mò

Thân thiện

Một con mèo rình mò con chuột sau cái ghế.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To lurk: To wait or move in a secretive and hidden manner, often with the intention of observing others without being seen, typically to find an opportunity to do something harmful or to gather information stealthily.
   • To spy on / to watch furtively: To observe someone or something secretly and stealthily, usually with a negative or malicious intent.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Kẻ trộm rình mò quanh nhà. (The thief lurked around the house.)
  • Mật thám rình mò các nhà cách mạng. (The spy was watching the revolutionaries furtively.)
  • Con mèo rình mò con chuột. (The cat is stalking the mouse.)

Advanced Usage

• The word strongly implies a patient, secretive, and often threatening observation. It is not used for casual watching but specifically for stealthy observation with an ulterior, usually negative, motive.

Variants and Related Words

• Rình (v): to lie in wait, to ambush. This is the core component meaning "to lie in wait." adds the nuance of stealthy investigation or prying.
• Mò mẫm (v): to grope around, to feel one's way. Shares the root "mò" implying searching, but without the stealthy "rình" component.

Synonyms

• Lurk: To wait hidden and motionless.
• Stalk: To pursue or approach stealthily.
• Snoop: To look around secretly to find out information.
• Prowl: To move around quietly in a place, especially with an intent to commit a crime.

Related Idioms

• Rình rập: This is a very close synonym, also meaning to lie in wait or stalk, often used interchangeably with .
  • Kẻ thù đang rình rập chúng ta. (The enemy is lying in wait for us.)

Học thuật

1. Lurk, watch for