rút ruột

Friendly

The Vietnamese phrase "rút ruột" has a couple of meanings and usages, making it a versatile term. Here’s a breakdown of the word and how you can use it:

Basic Meaning

1. Literal Meaning: The phrase literally means "to draw from the center." For example, when you take yarn from the middle of a ball of wool, you can say "rút ruột một cuộn len." This describes the action of pulling out the yarn from the center, making it easier to use without tangling.

2. Figurative Meaning: In a more figurative sense, "rút ruột" can mean to overexert oneself or to put in a lot of effort into something. This can also imply that someone is sacrificing their energy or resources to achieve a goal. For instance, you might say "rút ruột ra mà làm" to describe someone who is working extremely hard or making a significant effort in their tasks.

Usage Instructions

• When to Use: You can use "rút ruột" in both literal and figurative contexts. Use it when talking about pulling something from the center or when describing someone who is putting in a lot of effort into a project or task.

Examples

• Literal Example: "Tôi rút ruột một cuộn len để bắt đầu đan." (I draw a yarn from the center of a ball of wool to start knitting.)
• Figurative Example: "Anh ấy đã rút ruột ra mà làm dự án này." (He really overexerted himself to complete this project.)

Advanced Usage

In a more nuanced or advanced context, "rút ruột" can also imply extracting resources or money from someone, often in a negative sense. For example, if someone is being taken advantage of financially, you might say that they are being "rút ruột."

Word Variants

• There are no direct variants of "rút ruột," but you might come across similar phrases that convey effort or extraction, depending on the context.

Different Meanings

• To extract: It can imply taking something out from within, whether it’s yarn, resources, or effort.
• To overexert: It conveys making a significant effort, sometimes at the cost of one's well-being.

Synonyms

• For the figurative sense of hard work, you might use "cố gắng" (to strive) or "nỗ lực" (to make an effort).
• For the extraction sense, words like "lấy" (to take) or "xuất" (to extract) may be used.

Summary

"Rút ruột" is a versatile phrase that can describe both a physical action of drawing something from the center and a metaphorical action of overexerting oneself.

Academic

1. Draw from the centre
   • Rút ruột một cuộn len
     To draw a yarn of wool from the centre of the ball
2. Overexert oneself
   • Rút ruột ra mà làm
     To overexert oneself in doing something
3. Worm, squeeze money out