Definition

1. Verb:
   • To perk up, to prick up, to raise (a part of the body): "vểnh" describes the action of raising or pointing a part of the body, typically an ear, a tail, or a snout, upwards or outwards. It often implies an alert or attentive posture.
   • To stick out and curve upwards: "vểnh" can also mean to protrude something in a slightly curved, upward direction.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Con chó vểnh tai lên khi nghe thấy tiếng động. (The dog pricked up its ears when it heard a noise.)
  • Con mèo vểnh đuôi khi nó cảm thấy vui vẻ. (The cat raised its tail when it felt happy.)
  • Anh ấy vểnh râu lên một cách đắc ý. (He smugly raised his whiskers (beard/moustache) up.)

Advanced Usage

• "vểnh mặt": to raise one's face (often implying arrogance or looking down on someone).
  • Nó vểnh mặt lên, tỏ vẻ khinh thường. (He raised his face, showing contempt.)
• "vểnh râu": to stroke or raise one's beard/moustache (often indicating thoughtfulness or smugness).
  • Ông cụ ngồi vểnh râu suy nghĩ. (The old man sat stroking his beard in thought.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vênh (verb): to be tilted, to be raised at one end; often used to describe an object, not a body part.
  • Mặt bàn bị vênh. (The tabletop is warped/uneven.)
• Vênh vểnh (reduplicated verb, attenuated meaning): to be slightly raised or perked up.
  • Nó ngồi vênh vểnh trên ghế. (He sat on the chair with a slightly haughty/raised posture.)

Synonyms

• Ngẩng lên: to lift up (e.g., the head).
• Dựng lên: to erect, to stand up straight.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As "vểnh" is a verb that typically stands alone or is followed by a direct object (a body part), it does not commonly form phrasal verbs in the same way English verbs do. Its combinations are more fixed noun-verb phrases.

Related Idioms

• Vểnh tai lên nghe: to prick up one's ears and listen (to listen very attentively).
  • Cậu bé vểnh tai lên nghe câu chuyện của người lớn. (The boy pricked up his ears to listen to the adults' story.)
• Vểnh râu lên mà xem: an expression challenging someone to witness something impressive or to face a consequence (literally: "raise your whiskers and see").
  • Mày cứ làm đi, vểnh râu lên mà xem hậu quả. (Go ahead and do it, just wait and see the consequences.)

verb

1. to perk up, to prick up, to raise