Definition

1. Verb:
   • To infiltrate / to blend in: To secretly and deliberately mix into a crowd or group in order to perform a specific action, often with an ulterior motive such as spying, observing unnoticed, or causing disruption.
   • To mingle (covertly): To join a group of people unobtrusively, hiding one's true identity or purpose.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Một vài kẻ lạ mặt đã trà trộn vào đám đông biểu tình. (A few strangers infiltrated the protest crowd.)
  • Phóng viên trà trộn với các cổ động viên để chụp ảnh. (The reporter blended in with the fans to take pictures.)
  • Cảnh sát mặc thường phục trà trộn vào bữa tiệc. (The plainclothes police mingled covertly at the party.)

Advanced Usage

• The word inherently carries a connotation of secrecy and intention. The action is not simple mixing; it is done to achieve a hidden goal, such as gathering information, committing an act without being noticed, or hiding from detection.

Variants and Related Words

• Len lỏi (v): to weave or slip through. This can be a component of the action of "trà trộn," describing the stealthy movement into a group.
  • Hắn len lỏi giữa đám đông để đến gần hơn. (He weaved through the crowd to get closer.)

Synonyms

• Infiltrate: To gain entrance secretly.
• Blend in: To become inconspicuous by resembling one's surroundings.
• Mingle (covertly): To mix socially, but with a hidden agenda.

Related Idioms

• Trà trộn vào đám đông: This is the most common collocation, meaning "to infiltrate/blend into the crowd."
  • Để không bị phát hiện, họ phải trà trộn vào đám đông. (To avoid detection, they had to blend into the crowd.)