Definition

1. Verb (Động từ): - To fence, to cross swords: The action of fighting or competing with swords, typically as a sport, martial art, or in a historical combat context. It implies a duel or match involving bladed weapons.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Hai hiệp sĩ đấu gươm trên chiến trường. (The two knights crossed swords on the battlefield.)
  • Anh ấy học đấu gươm từ năm mười tuổi. (He learned to fence from the age of ten.)
  • Trong vở kịch, hai nhân vật chính đấu gươm để giải quyết mâu thuẫn. (In the play, the two main characters duel with swords to resolve their conflict.)

Advanced Usage

• "đấu gươm tay đôi": to have a one-on-one sword fight/duel.
  • Hai thuyền trưởng quyết định đấu gươm tay đôi. (The two captains decided to settle it with a one-on-one sword duel.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đấu kiếm (Verb): A more modern and common term for "to fence" (the sport). While 'đấu gươm' can be more general or historical, 'đấu kiếm' is specifically used for the sport of fencing.
  • Cô ấy là vận động viên đấu kiếm quốc gia. (She is a national fencing athlete.)
• Gươm (Noun): Sword. The weapon itself.
• Fencing (Noun - English equivalent): The sport of fighting with swords.

Synonyms

• Giao đấu bằng gươm/kiếm: To engage in combat with swords.
• Tỉ thí gươm đao: To compete/test skills with blades (a more literary synonym).

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "Gươm không đâm mủi đã cùn": (Idiom) Literally "The sword is blunt before it even stabs the target." It means to lose one's edge or effectiveness before even being put to the test. While it contains the word "gươm" (sword), it is an idiomatic expression about preparedness, not the act of fencing itself.

1. Fense, cross swords