Definition

1. Verb:
   • To reduce slightly, to cut down a little: To decrease the amount, quantity, or intensity of something by a small degree, often referring to spending, consumption, or use.

Usage

• The verb bơn bớt is used to advise or describe a moderate reduction. It is often applied in contexts of personal finance, consumption, or habits to suggest frugality or moderation.
• It typically appears in advice or recommendations.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Ăn tiêu cũng nên bơn bớt đi. (You should cut down your spending a little.)
  • Mùa hè nóng quá, chúng ta phải bơn bớt điện nước lại. (The summer is too hot; we have to cut back on our water and electricity usage a bit.)
  • Bác sĩ khuyên ông ấy bơn bớt đường trong khẩu phần ăn. (The doctor advised him to reduce the sugar in his diet a little.)

Advanced Usage

• "bơn bớt" is often used in the imperative or suggestive form to give gentle advice on economizing or being more moderate.

Variants and Related Words

• Bớt (verb): To reduce, to decrease. This is the core root. Bơn bớt is a reduplicative form that softens the meaning to "reduce a little."
• Cắt giảm (verb): To cut, to reduce (more formal and direct than ).
• Tiết kiệm (verb): To save, to economize.

Synonyms

• Giảm bớt: To reduce, to lessen.
• Hạn chế bớt: To limit, to restrict a bit.
• Cắt giảm chút ít: To cut down a small amount.

Related Idioms

• Ăn bớt ăn xén / ăn bớt nhặt thưa: (To pilfer, to take a little bit for oneself). Note: This idiom has a negative connotation of dishonestly skimming or taking a portion, which is different from the neutral, advisory sense of bơn bớt.

1. To cut down a little
   • ăn tiêu cũng nên bơn bớt đi
     spending must be cut down a little