Definition

Noun: 1. Horse's step; horse's footfall: Refers to the step or footfall of a horse, often used in a poetic or literary context to describe the movement or sound of a horse walking or trotting. 2. Horse's hoof (in a poetic sense): Can refer to the hoof itself, but primarily emphasizes the action of stepping or the imprint left by the hoof.

Usage Examples

• The sound of the horse's step echoed in the quiet valley. (Tiếng vó câu vang vọng trong thung lũng vắng.)
• The path was marked with the imprints of horse steps. (Con đường in hằn những dấu vó câu.)
• In the old poem, "the uneven horse steps, the bumpy cart wheels" paints a vivid picture of a difficult journey. (Trong thơ cổ, "vó câu khấp khểnh, bánh xe gập ghềnh" vẽ nên một bức tranh sinh động về một chuyến đi gian nan.)

Advanced Usage

• Literary and Poetic Device: The term 'vó câu' is almost exclusively used in Vietnamese poetry, classical literature (like ), and lyrical descriptions to evoke imagery, rhythm, or a sense of the past. It is rarely used in everyday modern conversation.
  • The poet used the image of 'vó câu' to convey the loneliness of the traveler. (Nhà thơ đã dùng hình ảnh 'vó câu' để truyền tải nỗi cô đơn của người lữ khách.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vó ngựa (noun): A more direct and common term for "horse's hoof" or "horse's foot." It can be used in both literary and more general contexts.
• Bước chân ngựa (noun phrase): A descriptive phrase meaning "the step of a horse," very close in meaning to 'vó câu' but less poetic.
• Dấu vó (noun): Refers specifically to the track or imprint left by a hoof.

Synonyms

• Horse's hoofbeat: Emphasizes the sound of the step.
• Equine footfall: A more formal or technical term for the step of a horse.

Notes on Meaning

• Primary Meaning: The core meaning is the action of a horse stepping or the sound/proof of that action. While it relates to the hoof, the focus is on its movement and effect, not the static anatomical part.
• Context is Crucial: This word's meaning and feeling are deeply tied to its literary context. Understanding it requires seeing it within verses of poetry or classical prose.

noun

1. horse step