xáo xới
Definition
- Verb:
- To turn over, to stir up (soil): The primary agricultural meaning refers to the action of digging, loosening, and turning over soil, typically between plants or before planting.
- To stir up, to agitate (matters): An extended figurative meaning describes the act of disturbing, reopening, or causing unrest regarding settled issues, memories, or situations.
Usage Examples
- Verb (agricultural):
- Người nông dân xáo xới đất trước khi gieo hạt. (The farmer turns over the soil before sowing seeds.)
- Verb (figurative):
- Đừng xáo xới lại những chuyện đã qua. (Don't stir up old matters.)
- Bài báo đó đã xáo xới dư luận. (That article agitated public opinion.)
Advanced Usage
- Used to imply a disruptive or probing action that brings hidden things to the surface, similar to tilling soil to expose what is underneath.
Variants and Related Words
- Xới (v): A more common synonym for the agricultural action of turning over soil.
- Xới đất cho tơi. (Loosen the soil.)
- Đào xới (v): To dig up; often used figuratively to mean investigating or excavating (e.g., secrets, scandals).
- Phóng viên đào xới thông tin. (The reporter dug up information.)
Synonyms
- To cultivate, to till: (for soil).
- To disturb, to agitate, to stir up: (for matters or feelings).
Related Idioms
- Xáo xới quá khứ: To dredge up the past.
- Anh ấy không muốn ai xáo xới quá khứ của mình. (He doesn't want anyone dredging up his past.)