thế thủ

thế thủ

Anh ấy đang ở thế thủ trong trận đấu võ.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A defensive position or posture: The state or stance of focusing on protecting oneself, holding one's ground, and countering attacks, as opposed to taking an offensive or attacking approach. It emphasizes resilience and weathering an opponent's assault.
    • A defensive situation: A circumstance in which one is forced to react to and withstand pressure, challenges, or attacks from others, with the primary goal of minimizing loss or damage.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • Đội bóng chuyển sang thế thủ để bảo toàn tỉ số. (The team switched to a defensive posture to preserve the score.)
    • Trong cuộc tranh luận, anh ta hoàn toàn ở thế thủ. (During the debate, he was completely in a defensive position.)
    • Công ty phải giữ thế thủ trước sự cạnh tranh khốc liệt. (The company had to maintain a defensive stance in the face of fierce competition.)
Advanced Usage

  • "Giữ thế thủ": To maintain a defensive position; to be on the defensive.

    • Sau những tổn thất ban đầu, quân đội chỉ còn cách giữ thế thủ. (After the initial losses, the army could only maintain a defensive position.)

  • "Ở vào thế thủ": To be put/forced into a defensive position.

    • Lỗi sai chiến lược đã đặt họ vào thế thủ. (The strategic mistake put them into a defensive position.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Phòng thủ (v/n): To defend / defense. This is a more general and common term for defense.

    • Họ tập trung vào chiến thuật phòng thủ. (They focused on defensive tactics.)

  • Cố thủ (v): To dig in and hold a defensive position stubbornly; to entrench.

    • Quân địch cố thủ trong thành trì. (The enemy forces dug in within the fortress.)
Synonyms
  • Defensive position/posture: The primary synonym, indicating a stance focused on protection.
  • Defensive: The general state of being prepared to defend.
  • On the back foot: An idiomatic expression for being forced into a reactive, defensive situation.
Related Idioms
  • "Thế công thế thủ": Offensive and defensive positions; the interplay between attack and defense.
    • Trận đấu là một cuộc đấu trí giữa thế công và thế thủ. (The match was a battle of wits between offense and defense.)