đánh véc-ni
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To varnish: The primary meaning of "đánh véc-ni" is to apply a clear, hard, protective liquid coating (varnish) to a surface, typically wood, to enhance its appearance and durability.
- To lacquer: It can also refer to the similar action of applying a glossy, often colored, lacquer finish.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Anh thợ đang đánh véc-ni lên mặt bàn gỗ. (The craftsman is varnishing the wooden tabletop.)
- Sau khi chà nhám, bước tiếp theo là đánh véc-ni cho tủ. (After sanding, the next step is to varnish the cabinet.)
- Chiếc hộp sơn mài này được đánh véc-ni rất cẩn thận. (This lacquer box was varnished very carefully.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in the context of woodworking, furniture finishing, and traditional crafts. It implies a process that may involve multiple coats and sanding between layers to achieve a smooth, glossy finish.
Variants and Related Words
- Véc-ni (n): varnish; lacquer. The noun form of the coating material itself.
- Cần mua một lọ véc-ni trong. (Need to buy a can of clear varnish.)
- Sơn véc-ni (n): another term for varnish or lacquer paint.
- Đánh bóng (v): to polish. While "đánh véc-ni" applies a new coating, "đánh bóng" refers to polishing an existing surface to a shine.
Synonyms
- To varnish: to apply a protective glossy coating.
- To lacquer: to coat with a hard, glossy finish.
- To shellac: to apply a specific type of resinous coating (a type of varnish).
Related Idioms
- While "đánh véc-ni" is a technical term, it can be used metaphorically to describe making something superficially attractive or glossy without substantive improvement, similar to the English idiom "to put a gloss on" something.
- Bài phát biểu đó chỉ là đánh véc-ni cho những vấn đề cũ. (That speech was just putting a gloss on the old problems.)