Definition

1. Verb:

   • To embroider: To decorate fabric or other materials by sewing patterns or pictures onto them using a needle and colored threads.
   • To embellish, to fabricate (a story): To add invented or exaggerated details to a story or account.

2. Noun:

   • A spade: A tool with a long handle and a broad, flat metal blade, used for digging. (Note: This is a less common, homographic noun. The primary meaning is the verb "to embroider").

Usage Examples

• Verb (To embroider):
  • Cô ấy thêu một bông hoa lên chiếc áo. (She embroidered a flower onto the shirt.)
  • Nghệ thuật thêu tay rất tinh xảo. (The art of hand embroidery is very intricate.)

• Verb (To embellish):

  • Anh ta thường thêu dệt thêm chi tiết cho câu chuyện. (He often embellishes the story with additional details.)

• Noun (A spade):

  • Người nông dân dùng cái thêu để đào đất. (The farmer uses a spade to dig the soil.)

Advanced Usage

• "thêu thùa": A compound verb meaning to do embroidery work.
  • Bà tôi rất giỏi thêu thùa. (My grandmother is very skilled at embroidery.)
• "thêu dệt": A compound verb meaning to fabricate or concoct (a story, an accusation).
  • Đó chỉ là một câu chuyện được thêu dệt. (That's just a fabricated story.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thợ thêu (n): Embroiderer.
  • Các thợ thêu trong làng rất có tiếng. (The embroiderers in the village are very renowned.)
• Tranh thêu (n): Embroidered picture.
  • Cô ấy mua một bức tranh thêu tay. (She bought a hand-embroidered picture.)
• Thùa (v): A synonym for embroidering, often used in combination with "thêu".

Synonyms

• Verb (To embroider): May vá (to sew), trang trí (to decorate).
• Verb (To fabricate): Bịa đặt (to make up), phóng đại (to exaggerate).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Thêu vào: To embroider onto something.
  • Cô thêu tên mình vào góc khăn. (She embroidered her name onto the corner of the scarf.)

Related Idioms

• "Thêu hoa dệt gấm": Literally "to embroider flowers and weave brocade"; figuratively means to embellish language or a story beautifully, often excessively.
  • Bài văn của cô ấy được thêu hoa dệt gấm. (Her essay was beautifully/elaborately embellished.)

noun

1. spade

verb

1. to embroider