Definition

1. Verb:
   • To clap, to slap: To strike a surface, typically with an open hand, producing a sound. Often used for encouragement, signaling, or gentle physical contact.
   • To flap, to beat: To move something, like wings, up and down repeatedly.
   • To lap, to wash against: For waves to strike against a shore or surface repeatedly.
   • To fatten (an animal): To feed an animal intensively to make it fatter before sale or slaughter.
   • To renege, to welsh (on a debt/promise): To refuse to pay back a debt or to break a promise or commitment.

Usage Examples

• To clap, to slap:
  • Khán giả vỗ tay nhiệt liệt. (The audience clapped enthusiastically.)
  • Mẹ vỗ nhẹ vào lưng đứa trẻ. (The mother patted the child's back gently.)
• To flap, to beat:
  • Con chim vỗ cánh bay đi. (The bird flapped its wings and flew away.)
• To lap, to wash against:
  • Sóng vỗ vào bờ đá. (The waves lapped against the rocky shore.)
• To fatten (an animal):
  • Người nông dân vỗ béo con lợn trước Tết. (The farmer fattens the pig before Tet.)
• To renege, to welsh:
  • Hắn ta đã vỗ nợ và bỏ trốn. (He welshed on his debt and ran away.)

Advanced Usage

• "vỗ về": To comfort, to soothe (often by patting and using gentle words).
  • Cô ấy vỗ về đứa trẻ đang khóc. (She comforted the crying child.)
• "vỗ mặt": To slap someone in the face (literally); to insult or humiliate someone publicly (figuratively).
  • Hành động đó như vỗ mặt vào danh dự của anh ta. (That action was like a slap in the face to his honor.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vỗ vỗ (reduplicated form): To tap or pat lightly and repeatedly.
  • Bà vỗ vỗ vào má cháu. (The grandmother tapped the grandchild's cheek.)
• Vỗ béo (compound verb): To fatten (an animal). This is a common compound.
• Vỗ nợ (compound verb): To renege on a debt.
• Vỗ ơn (compound verb): To be ungrateful; to fail to repay a kindness.

Synonyms

• Vỗ (as to clap): vỗ tay (to clap hands), đập (to strike, more forceful).
• Vỗ (as to fatten): nuôi béo (to raise/fatten).
• Vỗ (as to renege): bội ước (to break a promise), nuốt lời (to go back on one's word).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Vỗ vào: To pat/slap onto something.
  • Anh ta vỗ vào vai tôi. (He patted me on the shoulder.)
• Vỗ lên: To clap onto something, to slap something upward.
  • Cô giáo vỗ lên bàn. (The teacher slapped the table.)

Related Idioms

• Vỗ tay không kêu: Literally "clapping hands without sound." Means an effort or action is ineffective, futile, or lacks support.
  • Một mình anh ấy làm thì cũng như vỗ tay không kêu. (If he does it alone, it's like clapping with no sound—it's futile.)
• Vỗ ngực xưng tên: Literally "to beat one's chest and declare one's name." Means to boast confidently about one's abilities or identity.
  • Anh ấy dám vỗ ngực xưng tên hứa sẽ hoàn thành công việc. (He dared to beat his chest and promise he would finish the job.)

verb

1. to clap, slap to lap to flap