Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To play a role / to portray a character: The primary meaning of "vào vai" is for an actor or performer to assume and perform a specific character in a play, film, or other dramatic work. It involves embodying the character's traits and emotions.
   • To step into a role / to take on a part: It can also refer more generally to a person assuming a particular role or function in a real-life situation, often temporarily or figuratively.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Diễn viên trẻ đó vào vai một nhà cách mạng. (That young actor played the role of a revolutionary.)
  • Cô ấy đã vào vai người mẹ mất con một cách xuất sắc. (She portrayed the role of a mother who lost her child excellently.)
  • Trong cuộc họp, anh ấy phải vào vai người hòa giải. (In the meeting, he had to step into the role of a mediator.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often implies a depth of immersion, suggesting the actor is not just performing but identifying with the character, as indicated in the reference definition ("s'identifier à son personnage").
• It is commonly used in critiques and discussions of acting performance.

Variants and Related Words

• Đóng vai (verb phrase): to play a role. This is a very close synonym, though "vào vai" can sometimes emphasize the initial act of entering the role or the depth of immersion.
  • Anh ấy đóng vai phản diện rất thuyết phục. (He plays the villain role very convincingly.)

Synonyms

• To play a part: To perform a role.
• To portray: To depict a character in a performance.
• To embody: To represent or personify a character fully.

Related Idioms

• Vào vai nào ra vai ấy: To perform a role perfectly; to be completely convincing in a role (literally, "to enter the role and exit the role flawlessly").
  • Diễn viên chính vào vai nào ra vai ấy, khiến khán giả vô cùng xúc động. (The lead actor performed the role perfectly, moving the audience deeply.)