Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Face-down, prone: Describes a position where the front side, especially the face or the designated 'front' of an object, is turned downward.
   • Reverse (of a coin): Refers specifically to the "tails" side of a coin, which is considered the back or reverse side, opposite to "ngửa" (heads).

2. Adverb:

   • In a face-down manner: Indicates the manner of an action, meaning to place or fall with the front side down.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Anh ấy nằm sấp trên giường. (He is lying face-down on the bed.)
  • Đồng xu rơi xuống đất, mặt sấp ngửa lên. (The coin fell to the ground, showing its reverse side.)

• Adverb:

  • Đứa bé ngã sấp xuống đất. (The child fell face-down onto the ground.)
  • Hãy đặt quyển sách xuống sấp. (Place the book down face-down.)

Advanced Usage

• "ngã sấp": to fall flat on one's face, to fall prone.

  • Cậu bé trượt chân và ngã sấp. (The boy slipped and fell flat on his face.)

• "mặt sấp": the reverse side (of a coin or similar flat object).

  • Trong trò chơi tung đồng xu, mặt sấp thua. (In the coin toss game, tails loses.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sấp ngửa (idiomatic phrase): This phrase literally means "face-down and face-up" and is often used to describe the tossing of a coin or, figuratively, the uncertainties and ups and downs of life.
  • Cuộc đời lắm lúc sấp ngửa. (Life has its many ups and downs.)

Synonyms

• Úp: to turn something face-down, to cover by placing something on top. (Note: "úp" is typically a verb, while "sấp" is primarily an adjective/adverb describing a state.)
• Nằm sấp = nằm sề (colloquial): to lie prone.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Lật sấp: to flip/turn something over to its face-down side.
  • Cô ấy lật sấp tấm ảnh lại. (She flipped the photo face-down.)

Related Idioms

• Sấp mặt: This is a colloquial and somewhat vulgar idiom meaning to be in a terribly difficult or embarrassing situation, often implying a loss of face.
  • Lần này hắn sấp mặt thật rồi. (He's really in for it this time / He's really lost face this time.)

adj

1. prone
2. reverse