vuốt ve
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To fondle, to stroke gently: To touch or handle someone or something softly and repeatedly, often to show affection, comfort, or tenderness. This is the primary physical meaning.
- To soothe, to appease, to coax: To use words or actions to calm, flatter, or win someone over, often to placate them or gain favor. This is a figurative, psychological meaning.
Usage Examples
Verb (Physical affection):
- Cô ấy vuốt ve con mèo. (She is stroking the cat.)
- Người mẹ vuốt ve mái tóc của con. (The mother fondled her child's hair.)
Verb (Figurative soothing):
- Ông chủ vuốt ve nhân viên bằng những lời khen. (The boss soothed the employee with compliments.)
- Họ cố gắng vuốt ve đối thủ sau cuộc tranh cãi. (They tried to appease their opponent after the argument.)
Advanced Usage
- The word often implies a repeated, gentle, and deliberate action, whether physical or verbal. It can carry a slightly manipulative connotation in its figurative use, suggesting an attempt to influence or pacify someone through flattery or false kindness.
Variants and Related Words
- Vuốt (v): To stroke or smooth down in a single, often firmer motion (e.g., - to smooth one's hair). "Vuốt ve" emphasizes tenderness and repetition more than "vuốt".
- Âu yếm (v): To show affection, to caress. This is a close synonym for the physical sense of "vuốt ve" but can encompass a wider range of affectionate behavior.
- Xoa dịu (v): To soothe, to calm, to alleviate. This is a close synonym for the figurative sense of "vuốt ve".
Synonyms
- Caress: To touch or stroke gently in a loving way.
- Stroke: To move one's hand gently over a surface.
- Soothe: To gently calm a person or their feelings.
- Cajole: To persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery (related to the figurative sense).
Related Idioms
- Vuốt ve mơn trớn: To flatter and coax excessively; to butter someone up.
- Hắn ta chỉ biết vuốt ve mơn trớn cấp trên. (He only knows how to butter up his superiors.)