Definition

1. Verb:
   • To have a meal; to take a meal: The primary meaning of "ăn cơm" is the act of consuming a meal, particularly one centered around cooked rice, which is a staple food. It often refers to eating a main, proper meal.
   • To eat rice: In a literal sense, it can mean to consume cooked rice specifically.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cả gia đình cùng ăn cơm lúc 7 giờ tối. (The whole family has dinner together at 7 p.m.)
  • Chúng tôi đã ăn cơm trưa ở nhà hàng này. (We had lunch at this restaurant.)
  • Em bé mới biết ăn cơm. (The baby has just learned to eat rice.)

Advanced Usage

• "ăn cơm trước kẻng": to jump the gun; to act prematurely or out of turn.

  • Dự án thất bại vì có người ăn cơm trước kẻng. (The project failed because someone jumped the gun.)

• "ăn cơm nhà vác tù và hàng tổng": to be busybody; to meddle in others' affairs while neglecting one's own.

  • Anh ta chẳng lo việc nhà, chỉ ăn cơm nhà vác tù và hàng tổng. (He doesn't take care of his own chores, he just meddles in everyone else's business.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ăn sáng (v): to have breakfast.

  • Tôi thường ăn sáng lúc 7 giờ. (I usually have breakfast at 7 a.m.)

• Ăn trưa (v): to have lunch.

• Ăn tối (v): to have dinner.
• Dùng bữa (v): a more formal phrase for "to have a meal".

Synonyms

• To dine: to eat a meal, especially dinner.
• To eat a meal: the general act of consuming food.
• To have rice: to consume cooked rice.

Related Idioms

• Ăn cơm mới, nói chuyện cũ: to bring up old stories in a new situation.

  • Đừng ăn cơm mới, nói chuyện cũ nữa. (Don't bring up old issues again.)

• Ăn cơm nhà, thổi tù và hàng tổng: similar to "ăn cơm nhà vác tù và hàng tổng," meaning to be a busybody.

• Cơm chẳng lành, canh chẳng ngọt: said of an unpleasant, tense, or unhappy meal.

verb

1. to have a meal; to take a meal