đỡ

Etymology

Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 助 (“to help”; SV: trợ).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ɗəː˦ˀ˥]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ɗəː˧˩ʔ]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ɗəː˨˩˦]

Verb

đỡ (拖, 𠰹, 㐌, 󱘮, 󱚝) (reduplicated form đỡ đỡ)

1. to raise (someone) from a fall; to lift up
2. to prop; to support
3. to take in one's hands (what is offered, given); to help down with some load
4. to parry; to ward off
5. (colloquial) to help; to give a hand
6. to reduce (a negative emotion or situation); to relieve
   • 1957, Đoàn Giỏi, Đất rừng phương Nam, Kim Đồng publishing house, chapter 8

     Không có một tiếng vạc sành kêu cho đỡ buồn.

     Not one cricket chirped to reduce the sadness.

7. to get better (after falling sick); to recover

   Em đỡ chưa? ― Feeling better? / Recovered yet?

8. Short for đỡ đẻ (“to deliver (a woman in childbirth)”).

Adverb

đỡ

1. (Northern Vietnam) temporarily (in the absence of a better method); as a makeshift