Definition

1. Verb:

   • To support, to hold up, to prop: To physically hold or bear the weight of something or someone to prevent them from falling or collapsing.
   • To catch, to receive (with hands): To use one's hands to intercept and hold something that is moving, often to prevent it from falling or hitting something.
   • To parry, to ward off, to block: To deflect or stop an incoming force, attack, or object (like a ball, a blow).
   • To help with, to assist, to relieve: To provide help or support, often to share a burden or make a task easier for someone.
   • To alleviate, to lessen, to mitigate: To make an unpleasant condition (like hunger, pain, difficulty, boredom) less severe or more bearable.

2. Adverb:

   • Temporarily, as a stopgap, for the time being: Used to indicate a provisional, makeshift, or less-than-ideal action taken because a better option is not currently available.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Con đỡ mẹ bước xuống cầu thang. (The child helped/supported his mother down the stairs.)
  • Anh ấy đỡ quả bóng rất điêu luyện. (He caught the ball very skillfully.)
  • Võ sĩ đỡ được đòn tấn công của đối thủ. (The martial artist parried/blocked the opponent's attack.)
  • Tôi có thể đỡ anh một tay việc này. (I can help/assist you with this task.)
  • Ăn chút hoa quả cho đỡ đói. (Eat some fruit to alleviate the hunger.)

• Adverb:

  • Chúng tôi phải ở trọ đỡ vài tháng. (We have to rent a room temporarily/for the time being for a few months.)
  • Dùng cái cũ đỡ trước đã. (Use the old one as a stopgap for now.)

Advanced Usage

• "đỡ đầu": To sponsor, to patronize, to be a godparent. (Literally: to support the head). This is a compound term listed separately as it has a specific, idiomatic meaning.

  • Công ty đó đỡ đầu cho chương trình từ thiện. (That company sponsors the charity program.)

• "nói đỡ" / "làm đỡ": To speak/act on someone's behalf, to cover for someone.

  • Anh ấy nói đỡ tôi trong cuộc họp. (He spoke on my behalf/covered for me in the meeting.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đỡ đần (verb phrase): To help out, to assist (often with chores or work).
  • Đứa trẻ biết đỡ đần bố mẹ. (The child knows how to help out his parents.)
• Chống đỡ (verb): To resist, to withstand (pressure, force).
  • Cột nhà chống đỡ cả mái. (The house pillar supports the entire roof.)
• Nâng đỡ (verb): To support, to uplift (often emotionally or financially).
  • Gia đình luôn nâng đỡ tôi. (My family always supports me.)

Synonyms

• Chống (verb): To prop, to resist.
• Đón (verb): To receive, to welcome.
• Giúp (verb): To help.
• Giảm (verb): To reduce, to decrease.
• Tạm (adverb): Temporarily.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Đỡ lời: To help someone in a conversation, to chime in to support someone's point.
  • Thấy tôi lúng túng, anh ấy liền đỡ lời. (Seeing me flustered, he immediately chimed in to help.)
• Đỡ tay: To lend a hand, to assist physically.
  • Để tôi đỡ tay anh một chút. (Let me lend you a hand.)

Related Idioms

• Ăn đỡ đói, mặc đỡ rét: To eat to stave off hunger, to wear clothes to ward off the cold. (Describes meeting only the most basic, minimal needs.)
  • Thời đó, họ chỉ sống qua ngày với tâm thế ăn đỡ đói, mặc đỡ rét. (Back then, they just got by day-to-day with the mindset of meeting only their basic needs.)
• Làm đỡ, nói đỡ: To do/speak as a temporary substitute or to cover for someone. (Implies the action is not the primary responsibility or is done out of necessity.)
  • Tôi chỉ nói đỡ vài câu thôi, chứ không phải chuyên gia. (I'm just saying a few words to fill in, I'm not an expert.)

verb

1. to parry; to ward off; to turn aside to prop; to hold up; to relieve

verb

1. to stay; to satisfy for a time