vạch
Verb:
- To draw a line or mark: To create a line, stroke, or mark on a surface, typically with a tool like a pen, pencil, or chalk.
- To push aside, to part: To move something (like foliage, a curtain, or clothing) to the side to create an opening or to reveal what is behind it.
- To expose, to uncover: To reveal or bring to light something that is hidden, often something negative, secret, or wrong.
- To outline, to lay out: To formulate, plan, or describe the main points or structure of something.
Noun:
- A line, a mark, a stripe: A straight or defined line drawn or marked on a surface.
- A starting line, a mark: A line indicating a boundary, limit, or starting point in sports or other contexts.
- A tailor's marker: A tool, often made of bone, used by tailors to mark cutting lines on fabric.
Verb:
- Anh ấy vạch một đường thẳng trên giấy. (He draws a straight line on the paper.)
- Cô ấy vạch màn cửa để nhìn ra ngoài. (She parts the curtain to look outside.)
- Nhà báo vạch trần âm mưu của bọn tội phạm. (The journalist exposes the criminals' plot.)
- Ban lãnh đạo vạch ra kế hoạch cho năm tới. (The management lays out the plan for next year.)
Noun:
- Trên tường có một vạch đen dài. (There is a long black line on the wall.)
- Vận động viên phải đứng sau vạch xuất phát. (The athlete must stand behind the starting line.)
- Người thợ may dùng cái vạch để đánh dấu trên vải. (The tailor uses a marker to mark on the fabric.)
"vạch áo cho người xem lưng": Literally "to pull open someone's shirt for others to see their back." This idiom means to expose someone's faults or shortcomings, often to the detriment of one's own group or family (akin to "airing one's dirty laundry").
- Anh ta cứ thích vạch áo cho người xem lưng, cuối cùng chỉ làm hại danh tiếng gia đình. (He always likes to expose the family's flaws, ultimately only harming the family's reputation.)
"vạch đường chỉ lối": Literally "to draw the road and show the way." It means to guide someone, to show them the right path or method.
- Người thầy tốt là người biết vạch đường chỉ lối cho học trò. (A good teacher is one who knows how to guide their students.)
"vạch lá tìm sâu": Literally "to part the leaves to look for worms." This idiom means to be overly critical, to nitpick, or to deliberately look for minor faults.
- Đừng vạch lá tìm sâu trong mọi việc, hãy nhìn vào mặt tích cực. (Don't nitpick everything; look at the positive side.)
"vạch mặt chỉ tên": Literally "to point out the face and name the name." It means to publicly identify and denounce someone, often for wrongdoing.
- Bài báo đã vạch mặt chỉ tên những kẻ tham nhũng. (The article publicly named and shamed the corrupt individuals.)
Vạch kẻ (Noun/Verb): A stripe, a line; to draw lines. Often used for road markings or decorative stripes.
- Vạch kẻ đường (road markings)
Đường vạch (Noun): A drawn line, a demarcation line.
- Kế hoạch vạch ra (Phrase): An outlined plan.
Verb:
- Kẻ: to rule (lines).
- Vẽ: to draw.
- Phơi bày, bóc trần: to expose, to unveil.
- Đề ra, hoạch định: to propose, to formulate.
Noun:
- Đường kẻ: a line.
- Vệt: a streak, a stripe.
- Mốc, giới hạn: a mark, a limit.
Vạch ra (Verb + Particle): To draw out, to outline, to point out. This is a very common combination.
- Chúng ta cần vạch ra những bước đi cụ thể. (We need to outline specific steps.)
Vạch lối (Verb + Object): To blaze a trail, to pioneer a way.
- Nhà khoa học đã vạch lối cho ngành nghiên cứu mới. (The scientist blazed a trail for the new field of research.)
- "Vạch mây tìm trăng": Literally "to part the clouds to find the moon." Similar to "vạch lá tìm sâu" but can imply searching for something beautiful or truth amidst obscurity.
- "Vạch da tìm vết": Literally "to cut the skin to find the scar." It means to deliberately dig up old grievances or mistakes.
- to draw, to point out, to outline to expose, to uncover