Definitions

1. Verb:
   • To collapse, to fall apart (literally): Refers to something physically breaking down or collapsing, often used for structures or containers.
   • To fail, to fall through (figuratively): Describes a plan, project, or hope that fails completely or comes to nothing. This is the most common figurative usage.
   • To be revealed, to be exposed (figurative, informal): Used when a secret, scheme, or hidden truth is discovered or comes to light, causing the situation to "fall apart."

Usage Examples

• Verb (Literal collapse):

  • Chiếc bình cổ bị đổ bể khi rơi xuống đất. (The ancient vase shattered when it fell to the ground.)
  • Căn nhà cũ có nguy cơ đổ bể bất cứ lúc nào. (The old house is at risk of collapsing at any moment.)

• Verb (Figurative failure):

  • Kế hoạch kinh doanh của họ đã đổ bể hoàn toàn. (Their business plan completely fell through.)
  • Hi vọng về một hợp đồng lớn cuối cùng cũng đổ bể. (The hope for a big contract finally came to nothing.)

• Verb (Figurative exposure):

  • Âm mưu của bọn tội phạm đã bị đổ bể. (The criminals' plot was exposed.)
  • Bí mật gia đình đó rồi cũng sẽ đổ bể mà thôi. (That family secret will be revealed sooner or later.)

Advanced Usage

• "làm đổ bể": to cause to fail, to ruin, to expose.
  • Một sai sót nhỏ có thể làm đổ bể cả dự án. (A small mistake can ruin the entire project.)
  • Anh ta đã vô tình làm đổ bể tin tức bất ngờ. (He accidentally spilled the surprising news.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đổ vỡ (Standard Vietnamese): To break, to shatter, to collapse (can be used both literally and figuratively, similar to đổ bể).

  • Sự đổ vỡ trong giao tiếp dẫn đến hiểu lầm. (The breakdown in communication led to misunderstanding.)

• Thất bại: To fail (a more formal and general synonym for the figurative sense of failure).

• Bại lộ / Lộ ra: To be revealed, to be exposed (more formal synonyms for the exposure sense).

Synonyms

• Hỏng: To break, to be broken/to fail (informal).
• Tan vỡ: To break into pieces, to be shattered (often used for dreams or hopes).
• Phá sản: To go bankrupt (specific type of failure).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a verb, *đổ bể itself functions like a phrasal verb.* - Đổ bể chuyện: For a matter/affair to fail or be exposed. - Chuyện hôn nhân của họ sắp đổ bể. (Their marriage is about to fall apart.)

Related Idioms

• Đầu voi đuôi chuột: Literally "elephant's head, mouse's tail"; means a project that starts grandly but ends in failure. This shares the concept of a failed outcome with .
• Treo đầu dê, bán thịt chó: Literally "hang a goat's head, sell dog meat"; means deception that is eventually exposed, related to the "exposed" sense of .

1. (địa phương) như đổ vỡ