Definition

1. Verb:

   • To abbreviate / to condense: To shorten a text, speech, or piece of writing by removing less important details while keeping the core meaning.
   • To tidy up / to put in order: To organize scattered items, such as documents or objects, into a neat and compact state.

2. Verb (specialized usage):

   • To reduce / to contract: In scientific contexts, such as physics or optics, it describes the action of something drawing inward or becoming more compact, like light rays converging.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Bạn cần thu gọn bài phát biểu này xuống còn năm phút. (You need to condense this speech down to five minutes.)
  • Cô ấy thu gọn giấy tờ trên bàn làm việc. (She tidied up the papers on her desk.)
  • Thấu kính này có thể thu gọn chùm tia sáng. (This lens can converge the beam of light.)

Advanced Usage

• "thu gọn chi tiêu": to cut down on spending, to tighten one's budget.
  • Gia đình họ đang phải thu gọn chi tiêu. (Their family has to cut down on spending.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sự thu gọn (n): the act of condensing or tidying up; condensation.
  • Sự thu gọn bài viết làm nó dễ hiểu hơn. (The condensation of the article made it easier to understand.)

Synonyms

• Abridge: to shorten a written work.
• Organize: to arrange in a systematic order.
• Converge: to move toward one point (in scientific contexts).

Related Idioms

• Thu gọn gàng: to make neat and tidy (often used for appearance or space).
  • Căn phòng đã được dọn dẹp thu gọn gàng. (The room has been cleaned and made neat and tidy.)