Definition

1. Verb:
   • To shape, to mold, to form: This refers to the physical act of bending or forming a flexible object into a desired shape.
   • To correct, to straighten out, to rectify: This is the primary figurative meaning. It refers to the act of guiding, teaching, or correcting someone's behavior, thoughts, habits, or mistakes to make them proper, correct, or morally right.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Người thợ uốn nắn sắt nóng. (The worker shapes the hot iron.)
  • Giáo viên ân cần uốn nắn học sinh. (The teacher patiently corrects the students.)
  • Cha mẹ có trách nhiệm uốn nắn con cái từ nhỏ. (Parents have the responsibility to guide their children from a young age.)

Advanced Usage

• "uốn nắn tư tưởng": to correct/rectify one's thinking or ideology.
  • Anh ấy cần được uốn nắn tư tưởng cho đúng đắn. (His thinking needs to be corrected to be proper.)

Variants and Related Words

• Uốn (v): to bend, to curve (often physical).
  • Cô ấy uốn tóc. (She curls her hair.)
• Nắn (v): to straighten, to adjust (often physical).
  • Nắn lại cái đinh bị cong. (Straighten the bent nail.)

Synonyms

• Correct: to make right.
• Rectify: to put right; correct.
• Reform: to make changes to improve something.
• Mold: to shape or influence.

Related Idioms

• Uốn lưỡi bảy lần: (Lit: to bend the tongue seven times) Think carefully before speaking.
  • Trước khi phát biểu, hãy uốn lưỡi bảy lần. (Before speaking, think carefully.)

verb

1. to shape, to straighten