đong lường
Definition
Verb:
- To measure (capacity/volume): The primary meaning of "đong lường" is to determine the capacity or volume of a substance, typically a granular solid (like rice) or a liquid, using a standard container such as a cup, bowl, or bushel.
- To measure out / to portion: It involves the action of taking a specific, measured quantity from a larger amount.
Noun (less common):
- The act or method of measuring by capacity: Refers to the system or process of measurement using units of volume.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Người bán hàng đong lường gạo cho khách. (The shopkeeper measures out rice for the customer.)
- Công thức này yêu cầu phải đong lường bột mì thật chính xác. (This recipe requires the flour to be measured very precisely.)
- Noun:
- Đong lường là phương pháp đo lường cổ xưa. (Measuring by capacity is an ancient method of measurement.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in traditional, agricultural, or market contexts where goods are sold by volume rather than by weight. It implies a degree of approximation compared to precise scientific measurement.
- It can be used figuratively to suggest assessing intangible things, though this is less common.
Variants and Related Words
- Đong (v): Often used interchangeably with "đong lường," meaning to measure by volume. It is the more common, shorter form.
- Đong một lít nước. (To measure out one liter of water.)
- Đo lường (v): A broader term meaning "to measure" in a general sense, applicable to length, weight, volume, or other quantitative attributes.
- Đo lường khoảng cách. (To measure distance.)
Synonyms
- To measure (by volume): The general act of determining capacity.
- To portion out: To divide into measured amounts.
- To mete out: To distribute in measured quantities (often formal/literary).
Related Idioms
- Đong đưa: This is a distinct, homophonic word meaning "to swing" or "to sway." It is not related to measurement.
- While "đong lường" itself is not commonly used in idioms, the concept appears in proverbs about fairness in commerce.