tu lí
Definition
- Verb:
- To repair and arrange; to fix (damaged parts): The primary meaning of "tu lí" refers to the act of repairing something that is broken or damaged, and putting it in order. It implies restoring functionality or tidying up.
- To mend; to patch up: It can describe fixing minor damages or making something serviceable again.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ấy đang tu lí chiếc xe đạp cũ. (He is fixing up the old bicycle.)
- Chúng tôi phải tu lí lại ngôi nhà trước khi dọn vào. (We had to repair and arrange the house before moving in.)
- Cô ấy ngồi tu lí lại quần áo rách. (She sat mending the torn clothes.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "tu lí" often carries a nuance of hands-on, practical work to improve or restore the condition of an object, typically through physical effort and skill.
Variants and Related Words
- Tu sửa (v): to renovate, to refurbish. This is a more common modern synonym.
- Họ đang tu sửa căn bếp. (They are renovating the kitchen.)
- Sửa chữa (v): to repair, to fix.
- Thợ lành nghề sửa chữa máy tính. (A skilled technician repairs computers.)
Synonyms
- Repair: to restore to good condition.
- Mend: to fix a tear or break.
- Fix up: to repair or renovate.
- Patch up: to repair something, especially temporarily.
Notes on Usage
- "Tu lí" is a somewhat older or more literary term in Vietnamese. In everyday modern speech, words like "sửa chữa" or "tu sửa" are more frequently used.
- It often implies a thorough process involving both repair and subsequent organization.