Definition

Verb: - To turn back, to retrace one's steps: To physically turn around and go back the way one came. It implies a reversal of direction, often immediately after arriving or starting to leave a place. - To return, to go back: To head back to a previous location or point of departure.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy vừa đến đã vội trở gót. (He had just arrived when he hastily turned back.)
  • Thấy trời mưa to, cô ấy liền trở gót về nhà. (Seeing the heavy rain, she immediately turned back to go home.)
  • Sau khi giao hàng, tài xế phải trở gót về kho. (After delivering the goods, the driver had to turn back/return to the warehouse.)

Advanced Usage

• The word trở gót is somewhat literary and formal. In everyday spoken Vietnamese, phrases like , , or are more common for "to turn back" or "to return."
• It often carries a nuance of a prompt or decisive action, turning back shortly after setting out or arriving.

Variants and Related Words

• Trở lại (verb): To return, to come back. (A more common and general synonym).
• Quay gót (verb): A near-identical synonym meaning to turn on one's heel, to turn back.
• Quay lại (verb): To turn back, to return. (The most common and neutral term).

Synonyms

• Quay về: To return, to go back.
• Trở về: To return (often to a home base or origin point).
• Quay trở lại: To come/turn back again.

Related Phrases

• Trở gót ra về: A fixed phrase meaning "to turn back and leave/return home."
  • Nghe tin buồn, ông ấy lập tức trở gót ra về. (Upon hearing the sad news, he immediately turned back and went home.)

verb

1. to turn back, to retrace