đổ ngã

Trâu bị đổ ngã vì giá rét.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To fall down or collapse: This is the primary meaning, describing a person, animal, or structure falling over, often due to weakness, loss of balance, or external force.
   • To succumb (specifically of livestock): A more specific usage, meaning for livestock (like cattle) to fall down and die, typically due to harsh conditions such as extreme cold, hunger, or disease.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Người già dễ đổ ngã trên sàn trơn. (The elderly easily fall down on slippery floors.)
  • Hàng loạt gia súc đổ ngã vì rét. (A large number of cattle succumbed because of the cold.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a sudden or dramatic collapse, not a gentle lie-down. It carries a connotation of helplessness or being overcome by an adverse condition.

Variants and Related Words

• Đổ (v): to pour, to spill, to fall/collapse (as in a building).
• Ngã (v): to fall, to tumble.
• Té ngã (v): to fall over, to take a tumble (more common for accidental human falls).

Synonyms

• Collapse: to fall down suddenly.
• Succumb: to fail to resist a damaging force or condition.
• Perish (for animals): to die, especially in a tragic way.

Notes on Usage

• While "đổ ngã" can be used for people, "té ngã" is more frequent in everyday speech for accidental falls.
• The use of "đổ ngã" for livestock succumbing to cold or hardship is a specific, established meaning found in agricultural contexts.