Definition

1. Verb:
   • To be entangled, to be twisted together: Describes the state where two or more long, thin, flexible objects (like threads, vines, hair, or abstract things like thoughts, relationships) are coiled, twisted, or wrapped around each other in a complex, often messy or inseparable way.
   • To be complicated, to be intricate: Used figuratively to describe a situation, story, or problem that is complex, convoluted, and difficult to unravel or understand.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Sợi dây điện bị vấn vít với nhau. (The electrical cords are entangled with each other.)
  • Mái tóc dài của cô ấy bị vấn vít vì gió. (Her long hair became tangled by the wind.)
  • Câu chuyện của họ quá vấn vít, khó mà hiểu được. (Their story is too convoluted, it's hard to understand.)
  • Chín hồi vấn vít như vầy mối tơ. (Nine times entwined like this silken thread of love.)

Advanced Usage

• "vấn vít lấy nhau": to be entangled/twisted with each other, often implying a close but complicated bond.
  • Hai cây leo vấn vít lấy nhau. (The two vines are twisted around each other.)
• Used to describe abstract complexities:
  • Những suy nghĩ vấn vít trong đầu. (Tangled thoughts in one's head.)
  • Mối quan hệ vấn vít giữa hai gia đình. (The intricate relationship between the two families.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vấn (verb): To wind, to wrap, to coil (often around something). It is the root verb.
  • Vấn tóc (to coil/wrap hair).
• Vương vít (verb): A near-synonym meaning to be slightly entangled or clinging, often with a nuance of being bothersome or sticky (like cobwebs).
• Rối (adjective/verb): Tangled, messy. While often describes a state of disorder (like messy hair), emphasizes the action of twisting and coiling together.

Synonyms

• Quấn quýt: To cling to, to entwine (often with a connotation of affection or close physical proximity).
• Rối beng: To be in a tangled mess (more colloquial and emphasizes disorder).
• Chằng chịt: To be crisscrossed, densely interlaced (often for lines, roads, or roots).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a descriptive verb, 'vấn vít' itself does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its usage is typically with complements like 'với nhau' (with each other) or 'lấy nhau' (onto each other).

Related Idioms

• Vấn vít như tơ vò: Entangled like a silkworm's thread. An idiom used to describe something extremely intricate, complicated, and difficult to disentangle, often referring to emotions or situations.
  • Mối tình của họ vấn vít như tơ vò. (Their love is entangled like a silkworm's thread.)

verb

1. entangled