xói
Definition
Verb:
- To erode: To gradually wear away soil, rock, or land, typically by the action of water, wind, or other natural agents.
- To scour / To wash away: To remove or displace material by the forceful flow of a liquid, creating channels or hollows.
- To beat down (of sunlight): To strike directly and intensely, often used for harsh sunlight hitting a surface or a person's face.
Noun:
- Scouring / Erosion: The process or result of being eroded or washed away.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Nước mưa xói mòn chân đồi. (Rainwater erodes the foot of the hill.)
- Dòng nước xói một hố sâu bên bờ sông. (The current scoured a deep hole in the riverbank.)
- Ánh nắng gay gắt xói vào mặt. (The harsh sunlight beats down on the face.)
Advanced Usage
"xói mòn": to erode, erosion (a common compound term).
- Hiện tượng xói mòn đất là một vấn đề nghiêm trọng. (Soil erosion is a serious problem.)
"xói lở": to be undermined and collapse (often for riverbanks or slopes).
- Bờ sông bị xói lở sau trận lũ. (The riverbank collapsed due to scouring after the flood.)
Variants and Related Words
- Xói mòn (n/v): Erosion / to erode.
- Xói lở (n/v): Scour and collapse / to be scoured and collapse.
- Sự xói (n): The act or process of scouring/erosion.
Synonyms
- Erode: To wear away gradually.
- Scour: To clean or clear by hard rubbing or washing; in geology, to erode by water flow.
- Wash away: To remove or carry away by the action of water.
Related Idioms
- Nước xói chân đê: Literally "water erodes the dyke's base"; implies a persistent, hidden danger that can cause a major failure.
- Lỗi nhỏ như nước xói chân đê, lâu ngày sẽ gây hậu quả lớn. (A small mistake is like water eroding a dyke's base; over time it will cause major consequences.)