Definition

1. Verb:
   • To dock / to pull in / to come alongside: The primary meaning of "tấp" refers to the action of a boat or small vessel moving towards and stopping at a shore, pier, or another boat.
   • To stop briefly / to pull over: It can also describe the act of a vehicle stopping temporarily at the side of a road or a specific spot.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Chiếc thuyền tấp vào bờ để tránh bão. (The boat pulled into the shore to avoid the storm.)
  • Anh lái xe tấp vào lề đường để hỏi đường. (He pulled the car over to the roadside to ask for directions.)
  • Tàu đánh cá tấp vào mạn tàu lớn để chuyển hàng. (The fishing boat came alongside the larger ship to transfer goods.)

Advanced Usage

• "tấp vào": to pull into, to dock at. This is the most common collocation.
  • Xe buýt tấp vào trạm đón khách. (The bus pulled into the station to pick up passengers.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tấp nập (adj): bustling, busy, crowded. This is a common compound word meaning a lively and crowded scene.
  • Đường phố tấp nập người qua lại. (The streets are bustling with people coming and going.)

Synonyms

• Dock: to bring a ship into a dock.
• Pull over: to steer a vehicle to the side of the road.
• Moor: to secure a boat.

Notes on Usage

• The word "tấp" is often used in specific contexts related to transportation (boats, vehicles). It is less common in general speech than its compound form "tấp nập".
• When used alone, it typically requires a preposition like "vào" (into) to complete the meaning, indicating the destination where the vehicle or boat is stopping.