Definition

1. Verb:
   • To hold back; to restrain; to hinder: This is the primary meaning of "trì," indicating an action of pulling back, slowing down, or preventing forward movement or progress. It often implies a counteracting force.
   • To delay; to procrastinate: In some contexts, it conveys the idea of causing or experiencing a delay, dragging something out.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Một người kéo, một người trì. (One person pulls, the other holds back.)
  • Đừng để nỗi sợ hãi trì hoãn ước mơ của bạn. (Do not let fear delay your dreams.)
  • Chiếc xe bị trì lại vì đường xấu. (The vehicle was hindered by the bad road.)

Advanced Usage

• "trì hoãn": to postpone, to delay. This is the most common compound form.

  • Cuộc họp đã bị trì hoãn đến tuần sau. (The meeting was postponed until next week.)

• "trì trệ": to stagnate; to be sluggish or stagnant (often for economies, processes).

  • Nền kinh tế đang trong tình trạng trì trệ. (The economy is in a state of stagnation.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trì kéo (v): to tug against; to pull in opposition.

  • Hai đội đang trì kéo sợi dây. (The two teams are tugging on the rope.)

• Trì níu (v): to hold back persistently; to detain.

  • Cô ấy trì níu anh lại để nói thêm vài câu. (She held him back to say a few more words.)

Synonyms

• Hinder: to create difficulties for someone or something, resulting in delay or obstruction.
• Restrain: to prevent someone or something from doing something; to keep under control.
• Delay: to make something happen at a later time than originally planned.

Related Idioms

• "Kéo người trì kẻ": Describes a situation of conflict or opposition where parties are pulling in different directions.
  • Dự án thất bại vì nội bộ kéo người trì kẻ. (The project failed because internal members were pulling in opposite directions.)