Definition

1. Verb:
   • To lose (accidentally): To fail to keep hold of something due to carelessness or a slip, resulting in its loss or release.
   • To miscarry: For a pregnancy to end spontaneously and prematurely, resulting in the loss of the fetus.
   • To slip (physically): To make an accidental misstep or lose one's footing.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy sẩy tay làm rơi chiếc điện thoại. (He lost his grip and dropped the phone.)
  • Cô ấy rất buồn vì bị sẩy thai. (She is very sad because she had a miscarriage.)
  • Cẩn thận kẻo sẩy chân xuống mương. (Be careful not to slip and fall into the ditch.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb "sẩy" is most commonly used in specific compound phrases and idioms. Its standalone use is rare.
• "sẩy đàn tan nghé": An idiom describing a family or group that disperses or falls apart after losing its head or central figure.
  • Cha mất, gia đình sẩy đàn tan nghé. (When the father died, the family scattered.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sẩy thai (v): to have a miscarriage.

  • Việc làm quá sức có thể dẫn đến sẩy thai. (Overexertion can lead to miscarriage.)

• Sẩy tay (v): to accidentally let something slip from one's hand.

  • Đừng sẩy tay, cái bình này rất quý. (Don't let it slip; this vase is very valuable.)

• Sẩy chân (v): to slip one's foot, to lose one's footing.

  • Đường trơn, dễ sẩy chân lắm. (The road is slippery; it's easy to lose your footing.)

Synonyms

• To lose: To cease to have or retain (accidentally).
• To miscarry: To expel a fetus before it is viable.
• To slip: To slide unintentionally.

Related Idioms

• Sẩy cha còn chú, sẩy mẹ bú dì: Literally "Lose your father, there's still your uncle; lose your mother, suckle your aunt." Means one can find alternative support after a loss.

  • Đừng lo lắng quá, sẩy cha còn chú, sẩy mẹ bú dì mà. (Don't worry too much; if one support is lost, another can be found.)

• Sẩy chân còn hơn sẩy miệng: Literally "Slipping with your foot is better than slipping with your mouth." Means a physical mistake is less serious than a verbal one.

  • Nhớ kỹ, sẩy chân còn hơn sẩy miệng đấy. (Remember, a slip of the tongue is worse than a slip of the foot.)

verb

1. to lose