vây vẫy
Definition
- Verb:
- To flap or wave repeatedly and vigorously: Describes the action of moving a limb, wing, or fin back and forth or up and down with force and energy, often in a somewhat chaotic or desperate manner. It implies a continuous, repeated motion.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Con cá vây vẫy dưới nước. (The fish flapped vigorously in the water.)
- Chú chó ướt vây vẫy người, nước bắn tung tóe. (The wet dog shook itself, flapping its body and splashing water everywhere.)
- Đứa bé vây vẫy tay chân trong không trung. (The baby waved its arms and legs vigorously in the air.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "vây vẫy" is an intensified, reduplicative form of the simpler verb "vẫy" (to wave). It emphasizes the repetitive, energetic, and sometimes frantic nature of the motion. It is often used to describe the movements of animals or people in situations of excitement, distress, or struggle.
Variants and Related Words
- Vẫy (v): to wave (a single or gentler motion).
- Cô ấy vẫy tay chào tạm biệt. (She waved her hand to say goodbye.)
Synonyms
- Flap: to move up and down or back and forth.
- Thrash: to move in a violent and chaotic way.
- Wave vigorously: to move repeatedly with force.
Related Idioms
- Vây vẫy như cá trên thớt: To struggle/flail like a fish on a cutting board. This idiom describes desperate, frantic, but ultimately futile struggling.
- Hắn phản kháng nhưng chỉ như vây vẫy như cá trên thớt. (He resisted, but it was just futile struggling like a fish on a cutting board.)