Definition

1. Verb:
   • To blow: To expel air from the mouth. This is the most common and direct meaning.
   • To play (a wind instrument): To produce sound by blowing air into an instrument like a flute or trumpet.
   • To inflate: To fill something with air or gas by blowing.
   • (Of wind) To blow: For air to move naturally as wind.
   • To melt (metal): To heat metal until it becomes liquid. This is a specialized, technical usage.
   • To cook (rice): To steam or boil rice until cooked. This is a regional/colloquial usage.

Usage Examples

• To blow:
  • Anh ấy thổi nến trên bánh sinh nhật. (He blows out the candles on the birthday cake.)
  • Đứa trẻ thổi bong bóng xà phòng. (The child blows soap bubbles.)
• To play (an instrument):
  • Cô ấy biết thổi sáo. (She knows how to play the flute.)
• (Of wind):
  • Gió thổi mạnh qua cửa sổ. (The wind blows strongly through the window.)
• To cook (rice):
  • Mẹ tôi đang thổi cơm trong bếp. (My mother is cooking rice in the kitchen.)

Advanced Usage

• "thổi phồng": To exaggerate, to inflate (figuratively).
  • Họ thổi phồng sự việc lên rất nhiều. (They exaggerated the matter a great deal.)
• "thổi kèn": To blow a horn or trumpet (literally); can also imply boasting.
  • Người lính thổi kèn báo hiệu. (The soldier blows the bugle to signal.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thổi lửa (v): To blow on a fire.
  • Anh ấy ngồi thổi lửa cho ấm. (He sits blowing on the fire to keep warm.)
• Thổi thủy tinh (v): To blow glass (the craft).
  • Nghệ nhân đang thổi thủy tinh thành một chiếc bình. (The artisan is blowing glass into a vase.)

Synonyms

• Blow: To expel air.
• Play: To perform on a musical instrument.
• Inflate: To fill with air.
• Exaggerate: To overstate (for "thổi phồng").

Related Idioms

• Lớn như thổi: To grow very quickly (like being blown up).
  • Đứa bé lớn như thổi. (The child is growing like a weed.)
• Thổi bùng: To fan (flames), to incite.
  • Bài phát biểu đó thổi bùng sự phẫn nộ. (That speech fanned the flames of anger.)

verb

1. to blow