Definition

Verb: - To spend money: Refers to the act of using money to pay for daily living expenses, goods, or services. The word emphasizes the general activity of expenditure, often in the context of personal or household finances.

Usage

The verb ăn tiêu is used to describe how a person or entity uses their financial resources. It often comes with adverbs or phrases that specify the manner of spending (e.g., lavishly, frugally). It is a common term in discussions about personal finance, budgeting, and lifestyle.

Examples

• Verb:
  • Tay buôn lậu này ăn tiêu như một ông trùm mafia. (This smuggler spends money as if he were a Mafia boss.)
  • Anh ta ăn tiêu rất hoang phí. (He spends money very wastefully. / Money burns a hole in his pocket.)
  • Ăn tiêu dè sẻn là một thói quen tốt. (Spending stingily is a good habit.)

Advanced Usage

• Ăn tiêu hoang phí: To spend money wastefully, extravagantly, or improvidently.
  • Thói quen ăn tiêu hoang phí sẽ dẫn đến nợ nần. (The habit of improvident spending will lead to debt.)
• Ăn tiêu dè sẻn / ăn tiêu tiết kiệm: To spend money frugally, stingily, or parsimoniously.
  • Bà ấy ăn tiêu dè sẻn để dành tiền cho con. (She spends parsimoniously to save money for her child.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chi tiêu (verb): To spend, to expend. This is a very close synonym and is often used interchangeably with ăn tiêu, though chi tiêu can sound slightly more formal or neutral.
• Tiêu xài (verb): To spend (money). This synonym often carries a similar informal tone as ăn tiêu.
• Kẻ ăn tiêu hoang phí (noun phrase): A spendthrift, a big spender, a profligate.
• Thói ăn tiêu (noun phrase): Spending habits.

Synonyms

• Tiêu tiền: To spend money.
• Xài tiền: To use/spend money (common in Southern Vietnamese dialect).
• Phung phí: To squander, to waste (emphasizes the negative, wasteful aspect).

Related Phrases

• Ăn tiêu phung phí: A phrase combining ăn tiêu with phung phí (squander) for strong emphasis on reckless spending.
• Cách ăn tiêu: One's way or method of spending money.

Notes on Usage

• Ăn tiêu is a compound word formed from ăn (to eat) and tiêu (to spend/consume). It metaphorically covers all consumption-related expenses, not just food.
• It is typically used in informal or conversational contexts. In very formal or financial documents, chi tiêu might be preferred.
• The word does not have direct phrasal verbs or idioms beyond the phrases listed in "Advanced Usage" and "Related Phrases." Its meaning is primarily conveyed through modifying adverbs.

verb

1. To spend money
   • tay buôn lậu này ăn tiêu như một ông trùm maphia
     this smuggler spends money as if he were a Mafia boss
   • anh ta ăn tiêu rất hoang phí
     money burns a hole in his pocket; he throws his money about
   • kẻ ăn tiêu hoang phí
     a spendthrift, a big spender, an extravagant spender
   • thói quen ăn tiêu hoang phí
     improvident spending habits
   • ăn tiêu dè sẻn
     to spend stingingly, to be parsimonious