Definition

1. Noun:
   • Tiger: A large, powerful wild cat with a yellow-orange coat and black stripes, native to Asia. In Vietnamese folklore and colloquial speech, "ông ba mươi" is a euphemistic and respectful term used to refer to the tiger, avoiding directly naming it out of superstition or reverence.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Người dân làng nói rằng ông ba mươi đã xuất hiện trong rừng. (The villagers said that the tiger had appeared in the forest.)
  • Trong truyện cổ tích, ông ba mươi thường được miêu tả là một con vật rất mạnh mẽ. (In folk tales, the tiger is often described as a very powerful animal.)

Advanced Usage

• Used as a euphemism: The term "ông ba mươi" is used to avoid saying the direct word "hổ" or "cọp" (tiger), stemming from traditional beliefs that directly naming the animal might attract it or show disrespect.
  • Khi đi rừng, người ta thường kiêng nói đến "hổ" mà gọi là "ông ba mươi". (When going into the forest, people often avoid saying "tiger" and instead call it "ông ba mươi".)

Variants and Related Words

• Hổ (n): Tiger. This is the standard, direct zoological term.
  • Hổ là loài động vật ăn thịt. (The tiger is a carnivorous animal.)
• Cọp (n): Tiger. This is another common, direct synonym for "hổ," used more in Southern Vietnam.
  • Con cọp trong sở thú trông rất to. (The tiger in the zoo looks very big.)

Synonyms

• Tiger: The direct English translation.
• Big cat: A general term for large felines, including tigers.

Related Idioms and Expressions

• Kiêng tên ông ba mươi: (To avoid/taboo the name of the tiger) Refers to the superstitious practice of not directly naming something feared or respected to avoid its attention.
  • Giống như kiêng tên ông ba mươi, một số ngư dân không bao giờ nói từ "cá mập" trên thuyền. (Like avoiding the tiger's name, some fishermen never say the word "shark" on the boat.)

1. (khẩu ngữ) Tiger