vác
Động từ:
- To carry on one's shoulder: The primary meaning of "vác" is to transport a heavy or bulky object by supporting it on one's shoulder.
- To shoulder: It can also mean to take on a burden, responsibility, or task, often with a sense of effort or obligation.
Danh từ:
- A load / a bundle: Refers to a quantity of items (like firewood or branches) that is carried together on the shoulder.
Động từ:
- Người nông dân vác cuốc ra đồng. (The farmer carried his hoe on his shoulder to the field.)
- Anh ấy vác một bao gạo nặng. (He carried a heavy sack of rice on his shoulder.)
- Tôi phải vác trách nhiệm này một mình. (I have to shoulder this responsibility alone.)
Danh từ:
- Ông ấy đốn về một vác củi. (He cut and brought back a bundle of firewood.)
"vác mặt": A colloquial and often critical phrase meaning to show one's face (somewhere), implying showing up where one is not welcome or is being brazen.
- Sao anh còn dám vác mặt đến đây? (How dare you still show your face here?)
"vác tù và hàng tổng": An idiom meaning to meddle in other people's business or to take on unnecessary and troublesome tasks for others.
- Việc người ta, đừng có vác tù và hàng tổng. (That's other people's business, don't go meddling.)
Khiêng (v): To carry by two or more people, typically holding an object at each end. It implies a shared load, unlike "vác" which is usually individual.
- Họ khiêng chiếc bàn lớn vào nhà. (They carried the large table into the house.)
Gánh (v): To carry using a pole (đòn gánh) balanced across the shoulder with a load suspended from each end.
- Bà ấy gánh hai thúng rau ra chợ. (She carried two baskets of vegetables to the market on a pole.)
- To carry (on the shoulder): The most direct synonym.
- To haul: Suggests moving something heavy with great effort.
- To bear / to shoulder: For the figurative sense of accepting a burden.
Vác ngà voi: Literally "to carry elephant tusks," meaning to boast or show off one's wealth or possessions.
- Anh ta thích vác ngà voi cho mọi người thấy. (He likes to show off his wealth to everyone.)
Ăn no vác nặng: An idiom meaning "to eat one's fill and carry heavy loads," often used to describe a simple, honest life of hard work or to imply reciprocity (one who is well-treated should work hard in return).
- Kẻ ăn no vác nặng bao giờ cũng được trọng dụng. (Those who work hard after being well-provided for are always valued.)