cầm chân

Vietnamese

Etymology

cầm (“hold/seize”) +‎ chân (“foot/leg”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [kəm˨˩ t͡ɕən˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [kəm˦˩ t͡ɕəŋ˧˧]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [kəm˨˩ cəŋ˧˧]

Verb

cầm chân

1. (literal) to hold the legs
2. (figurative) to pin down; to immobilize; to restrict (especially an enemy)
3. (figurative) to fend off; to resist; to repel (especially in sports)