solve

/sɑːlv/

A2verb

To find an answer to a problem, puzzle, or difficult situation.

Concreteness 2.1/5 · Abstract

Tiếng Việt

giải quyết

xôn-vờ

Phát âm giống 'xôn' nhưng kết thúc bằng âm 'v' nhẹ ở cuối môi.

Tìm ra câu trả lời cho một vấn đề, câu đố hoặc tình huống khó khăn.

Meanings

5 meanings

1To find a way of dealing with a problem or a difficult situation.verbgeneral
Tìm cách xử lý một vấn đề hoặc một tình huống khó khăn.
“Attempts are being made to solve the problem of waste disposal.”
“Các nỗ lực đang được thực hiện để giải quyết vấn đề xử lý chất thải.”
- The problem cannot be solved with spending cuts alone.
- We need to focus on solving the country's financial crisis.
- A plan designed to solve the housing problem was announced yesterday.
- Unemployment will not be solved by offering low-paid jobs.
Dùng 'solve' khi bạn muốn tìm ra giải pháp thực tế cho một vấn đề cụ thể. Đừng nhầm với 'resolve' thường dùng cho mâu thuẫn.
2To find the correct answer to a puzzle, mystery, or mathematical problem.verbgeneral
Tìm ra câu trả lời chính xác cho một câu đố, bí ẩn hoặc bài toán.
“The police are still trying to solve the mystery of the missing painting.”
“Cảnh sát vẫn đang cố gắng giải mã bí ẩn về bức tranh bị mất tích.”
- We were given clues to help us solve the puzzle.
- It took me ages to solve that crossword.
- The arrests have not solved the mystery of what happened to the stolen cash.
- This equation is difficult to solve without a calculator.
Trong tiếng Việt, 'solve a mystery' có thể dịch là 'giải mã bí ẩn' thay vì chỉ dùng 'giải quyết'.
3To find the values of variables that satisfy a system of equations or inequalities.verbacademic
Tìm giá trị của các biến số thỏa mãn một hệ phương trình hoặc bất phương trình.
“Solve for x in the following equation: 2x + 5 = 15.”
“Giải tìm x trong phương trình sau: 2x + 5 = 15.”
- Students were asked to solve the quadratic equation.
- The algorithm is designed to solve complex linear inequalities.
Cụm 'solve for x' là thuật ngữ toán học cố định, tương đương với 'giải tìm x' trong tiếng Việt.
4To loosen or separate the parts of something.verbtechnical
Làm lỏng hoặc tách rời các bộ phận của một thứ gì đó.
“The chemist attempted to solve the compound into its base elements.”
“Nhà hóa học đã cố gắng phân giải hợp chất thành các nguyên tố cơ bản của nó.”
Đây là nghĩa cổ hoặc chuyên ngành hóa học, hiện nay ít dùng trong giao tiếp thông thường.
5A solution or an explanation, particularly in the context of law enforcement or puzzle-solving.nounrare
Một lời giải hoặc lời giải thích, đặc biệt trong bối cảnh thực thi pháp luật hoặc giải đố.
“The detective was pleased with the quick solve of the burglary case.”
“Thám tử hài lòng với việc phá án nhanh chóng vụ trộm.”
- This puzzle is a satisfying solve for beginners.
- The case remained without a solve for over a decade.
Cách dùng danh từ này rất hiếm và mang tính chuyên môn cao, thường thay bằng 'solution'.

Word bank

Synonyms

Near synonyms

remedy

Antonyms

Common phrases

solve a problem
solve a mystery
solve a puzzle
solve an equation
solve a crime
attempt to solve
help to solve
effectively solve
quick solve
satisfying solve

Grammar & forms

Grammar

transitive
countable

Inflections

third_person_singular: solves
past_simple: solved
past_participle: solved
present_participle: solving
plural: solves

Word family

solvable, unsolvedadjective
solution, solvernoun

Usage patterns

solve something
solve for something
a quick solve
a difficult solve

Avoid mistakes

Common mistakes

He solved the question.
He answered the question.
In English, we 'answer' questions and 'solve' problems or puzzles.
The problem was solved of the team.
The problem was solved by the team.
Use the preposition 'by' to indicate the agent who solved the problem.
We need to solve the conflict.
We need to resolve the conflict.
'Resolve' is the more natural collocation for interpersonal or political conflicts.
I solved for the answer.
I found the answer.
'Solve for' is specifically used in mathematics (e.g., solve for x).
It is a solvable problem.
It is a solvable problem.
Ensure the adjective form 'solvable' is used correctly to describe the noun.

Don't confuse with

resolve
to find a solution to a conflict or argument
“They managed to resolve their differences.”
Use 'solve' for puzzles and math; use 'resolve' for conflicts and disputes.
answer
to give a response to a question
“Please answer the question.”
You answer a question, but you solve a problem.

Academic collocations

Words that pair with "solve" in formal and academic writing

verb: attempt toseek toeffectively
adjective: compleximmediatepotential
noun: problemcrisisequation
preposition: bythrough

In context

Real-world examples

daily life
We need to work together to solve this traffic congestion problem in Hanoi.
Chúng ta cần hợp tác cùng nhau để giải quyết vấn đề tắc nghẽn giao thông này ở Hà Nội.
Traffic congestion is a very common daily challenge in major Vietnamese cities.
business
Our team successfully solved the technical glitch before the product launch.
Đội ngũ của chúng tôi đã giải quyết thành công lỗi kỹ thuật trước khi ra mắt sản phẩm.
Problem-solving skills are highly valued in the rapidly growing Vietnamese tech sector.
academic
Students are required to solve five complex equations within sixty minutes.
Học sinh được yêu cầu giải năm phương trình phức tạp trong vòng sáu mươi phút.
Mathematics is a core subject in the Vietnamese education system with heavy emphasis on solving equations.

Notes for Vietnamese speakers

In Vietnamese culture, 'giải quyết' (solve) is often used for formal problems, while 'gỡ rối' is used for untangling complicated social or emotional situations.
Vietnamese students are often praised for their ability to 'giải toán' (solve math), which is a point of academic pride.
When solving conflicts, Vietnamese culture often values 'hòa giải' (reconciliation) alongside finding a logical solution.

Etymology

From Middle English 'solven', from Latin 'solvere' meaning 'to loosen, untie, release, or explain'. The word entered English in the 15th century, originally referring to the dissolving of substances before evolving to mean the explanation of difficulties. Source: Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology.

Exam levels

IELTS

5.5

CEFR

TOEIC

255-400