Definition

1. Verb:
   • To pinch: To squeeze something, typically skin or a small amount of a soft substance, tightly between the thumb and a finger.
   • To nip / To tweak: A quick, sharp action of pinching, often causing a slight pain or surprise.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đứa trẻ véo má em gái. (The child pinched his sister's cheek.)
  • Cô ấy véo một ít bột để nêm nếm. (She pinched a little flour to season.)
  • Anh ấy bị véo vào cánh tay để tỉnh ngủ. (He was pinched on the arm to wake up.)

Advanced Usage

• "véo von": (of a sound, especially a voice or bird song) to be high-pitched, clear, and melodious. This is an idiomatic extension from the sharp, precise action of pinching to describe sound.
  • Tiếng hát của cô ấy nghe véo von. (Her singing sounds clear and melodious.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhéo (v): A synonym for "véo," meaning to pinch or tweak, often used interchangeably in many contexts.
  • Đừng nhéo tay tôi! (Don't pinch my hand!)

Synonyms

• Pinch: To squeeze tightly between fingers.
• Tweak: To pinch and twist sharply.
• Nip: To pinch or squeeze lightly and quickly.

Related Idioms

• Véo má đứa bé: To pinch a child's cheek (a common, often affectionate, gesture).

  • Bà cụ thường véo má đứa bé hàng xóm. (The old lady often pinches the neighbor child's cheek.)

• Véo một tí: To take a pinch of something (often used for spices, snuff, or herbs).

  • Bạn chỉ cần véo một tí muối thôi. (You only need a pinch of salt.)

verb

1. to pinch