Definition

1. Adverb:

   • About to / on the verge of: Indicates that an action or event is imminent and will happen in the very near future.
   • Almost / nearly: Used to express that a certain state, condition, or point in time is close to being reached.

2. Verb:

   • To arrange / to put in order: To place or organize items in a specific, orderly sequence or position.
   • To prepare / to get ready: To make things ready for a forthcoming activity or purpose.

3. Noun (dialectal):

   • Group / band / gang: Refers to a small, often informal, group of people, sometimes with a negative connotation.
   • Batch / round: Refers to a set or series of things done or consumed in one turn.

Usage Examples

• Adverb:
  • Trời sắp mưa. (It is about to rain.)
  • Cô ấy sắp mười tám tuổi. (She is nearly eighteen years old.)
• Verb:
  • Hãy sắp sách vở lên bàn học. (Please arrange your books and notebooks on the study desk.)
  • Mẹ sắp cơm ra mâm. (Mother prepares/arranges the rice on the tray.)
• Noun:
  • Một sắp trẻ con chạy ra đường. (A group of children ran into the street.)
  • Anh ta uống một sắp rượu. (He drank a round of alcohol.)

Advanced Usage

• "sắp đặt": to arrange, to organize (often for an event or a system).
  • Họ đang sắp đặt kế hoạch cho chuyến đi. (They are arranging the plan for the trip.)
• "sắp xếp": to arrange, to put in order, to schedule.
  • Tôi cần sắp xếp lại lịch làm việc. (I need to rearrange my work schedule.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sắp sửa (adv): a synonym for "sắp" as an adverb, emphasizing immediacy.
  • Chuyến tàu sắp sửa khởi hành. (The train is about to depart.)
• Sắp lớp (v): to arrange in layers or rows.
  • Sắp lớp gạch cho thẳng. (Arrange the bricks in straight rows.)

Synonyms

• Adverb: nearly, almost, shortly, soon.
• Verb: organize, order, set, lay out.
• Noun: bunch, cluster, set.

Related Idioms

• Sắp cổ: (literally "to arrange the neck") means to be on the brink of severe trouble or punishment.
  • Nó lái ẩu thế là sắp cổ rồi. (Driving recklessly like that, he's asking for trouble/is about to get into big trouble.)
• Sắp đến nơi: means something is imminent or about to arrive/occur.
  • Kỳ thi sắp đến nơi rồi. (The exam is almost here.)

noun

1. band, group, gang

verb

1. to pile, to arrange, to set to keep ready

adj

1. forthcoming, about to