Definition

1. Verb:
   • To turn, to revolve, to rotate: To move or cause to move in a circular path around a central point or axis.
   • To change direction or orientation: To shift the position or facing of something.
   • To change or switch (profession, method): To alter one's course of action or occupation.
   • (Colloquial) To manage to obtain, to procure (often with effort or ingenuity): To find a way to get something, especially money or a scarce item.

Usage Examples

• To turn/revolve:
  • Trái Đất xoay quanh Mặt Trời. (The Earth revolves around the Sun.)
  • Cái ghế này có thể xoay. (This chair can swivel.)
• To change direction/orientation:
  • Anh ấy xoay người lại nhìn tôi. (He turned around to look at me.)
  • Chúng tôi phải xoay chiếc bàn cho vừa cửa. (We had to turn the table to fit it through the door.)
• To change/switch:
  • Sau nhiều lần thất bại, hắn ta xoay sang chiến thuật khác. (After many failures, he switched to a different tactic.)
• To manage to obtain:
  • Tôi đang cố xoay đủ tiền để trả học phí. (I'm trying to scrape together enough money to pay the tuition.)
  • Cậu có xoay được vé xem concert không? (Did you manage to get tickets for the concert?)

Advanced Usage

• "xoay xở": To manage, to cope, to find a way (often in a difficult situation).
  • Dù khó khăn, anh ấy vẫn xoay xở để lo cho gia đình. (Despite the hardship, he still manages to provide for his family.)
• "xoay chuyển": To turn around, to reverse (a situation).
  • Chúng ta cần một giải pháp để xoay chuyển tình thế. (We need a solution to turn the situation around.)
• "xoay như chong chóng": To be very busy, to run around hectically (idiomatic).
  • Sáng nay tôi xoay như chong chóng để chuẩn bị cho buổi họp. (I was running around like a top this morning preparing for the meeting.)

Variants and Related Words

• Xoay vần (verb phrase): To revolve, to alternate cyclically (often used for seasons, fate).
  • Bốn mùa xoay vần. (The four seasons follow their cycle.)
• Xoay tròn (verb phrase): To spin, to rotate fully.
  • Đứa trẻ thích xoay tròn cho đến khi chóng mặt. (The child likes to spin until dizzy.)
• Sự xoay chuyển (noun): A turnaround, a reversal (of a situation).
• Có thể xoay (adjective phrase): Rotatable, swiveling (e.g., a ghế xoay - swivel chair).

Synonyms

• Quay: To turn, to spin (often interchangeable with xoay for physical rotation).
• Xoay trở: To maneuver, to manage (similar to xoay xở).
• Chuyển hướng: To change direction.
• Vần: To revolve (archaic/poetic, as in xoay vần).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Xoay ra: To result in, to turn into (often an unexpected or negative outcome).
  • Cuộc cãi vã nhỏ xoay ra thành một trận ẩu đả. (The small argument turned into a fight.)
• Xoay qua xoay lại: To turn this way and that; to consider or try various options repeatedly.
  • Nghĩ xoay qua xoay lại, tôi vẫn thấy phương án đó là tốt nhất. (Thinking it over and over, I still find that option to be the best.)

Related Idioms

• "Xoay sở": Synonymous with xoay xở, meaning to manage or cope.
  • Một mình bà ấy xoay sở cả cửa hàng. (She manages the whole store by herself.)
• "Tiền vô như nước, tiền ra như *xoay"*: Money comes in like water but goes out as if being spun away (i.e., money is spent very quickly).
  • Công ty mới thành lập, tiền vô như nước, tiền ra như xoay. (The newly established company sees money come in easily but get spent just as fast.)

verb

1. to turn, to revolve