đổ bể
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definitions
- 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 .
- (địa phương) như đổ vỡ