Definition

1. Verb:
   • To level; to flatten; to smooth: The primary meaning refers to the physical action of making a surface even, flat, or smooth by spreading material evenly or removing irregularities.
   • To overcome; to surmount; to clear away: An extended, figurative meaning referring to eliminating obstacles, difficulties, or barriers, making a path forward smooth.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Physical Action):

  • Đổ đá xuống mặt đường xong san phẳng bằng xe lăn. (After spreading gravel on the road surface, level it with a steamroller.)
  • Công nhân đang san phẳng nền đất trước khi xây nhà. (The workers are leveling the ground before building the house.)

• Verb (Figurative Action):

  • Chúng tôi phải san phẳng mọi khó khăn để hoàn thành dự án. (We must overcome all difficulties to complete the project.)
  • Cô ấy đã san phẳng những bất đồng trong nhóm. (She smoothed out the disagreements within the team.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in technical, construction, and project management contexts. Figuratively, it is common in business, personal development, and strategic planning to describe problem-solving.

Variants and Related Words

• San bằng (v): A near-synonym often used interchangeably, especially in the figurative sense of "to level" or "to equalize."
  • San bằng mặt bằng. (To level the site.)
• Làm phẳng (v): To make flat (more general).
• Cào bằng (v): To rake level; often implies a more aggressive or thorough leveling.

Synonyms

• Level: To make a surface horizontal and even.
• Flatten: To make something flat.
• Smooth: To make a surface free from irregularities.
• Overcome: To successfully deal with a problem.
• Surmount: To overcome a difficulty or obstacle.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• San phẳng mặt bằng: To level the playing field (both literal and figurative).
  • Công ty mới san phẳng mặt bằng cạnh tranh với các đổi thủ. (The new company leveled the competitive playing field with its rivals.)
• San phẳng trở ngại: To clear away obstacles (a common figurative phrase).
  • Mục tiêu là san phẳng mọi trở ngại cho sự phát triển. (The goal is to clear away all obstacles to development.)

1. Level, smooth the surface of
   • Đổ đá xuống mặt đường xong san phẳng bằng xe lăn
     To level with a steam-roller the macadam spread on a road surface