Definition

Verb: - To depend on others for one's living, especially without contributing one's own labor or effort; to be a parasite. This term carries a strong negative connotation of laziness and exploitation.

Usage

• The verb "ăn bám" is used to describe a person who lives off someone else's work or resources.
• It is often followed by the preposition "vào" (on) to specify the person or source being exploited.
• It is a direct and critical term, implying moral judgment.

Examples

• (He refuses to get a job and just sponges off his parents all day.)
• (She is exhausted by a husband who only knows how to live off her.)
• (Society condemns parasites.)

Advanced Usage

• "sống ăn bám": to live a parasitic life.
  • Lối sống ăn bám là đáng xấu hổ. (A parasitic lifestyle is shameful.)
• "tư tưởng ăn bám": a parasitic mindset; the mentality of relying on others.
  • Thanh niên cần loại bỏ tư tưởng ăn bám. (Young people need to eliminate the parasitic mindset.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kẻ ăn bám (noun): a sponger; a parasite; a leech.
  • Anh ta bị mọi người xem là một kẻ ăn bám. (He is seen by everyone as a sponger.)
• Ăn bám xã hội: to be a social parasite.
  • Những kẻ ăn bám xã hội cần bị phê phán. (Social parasites should be criticized.)

Synonyms

• Sống ký sinh: to live parasitically.
• Sống dựa dẫm: to live in a dependent, clinging manner.
• Bám váy (colloquial, often for men depending on women): to cling to someone's apron strings.

Related Idioms

• "Ăn không ngồi rồi": to be idle and do nothing (often implies living off others as a result).
  • Cả ngày anh ta chỉ ăn không ngồi rồi, ăn bám gia đình. (All day he just sits idle, sponging off his family.)

verb

1. To sponge on, to live on
   • ăn bám vào vợ
     to live on one's wife
   • kẻ ăn bám
     sponger