sấp
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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).
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.)