Definition

Noun: 1. A type of climbing plant (often morning glory): "Bìm" refers to a type of twining or climbing plant, commonly known as morning glory (genus Ipomoea). It is often used in its reduplicative form "bìm bìm". 2. Metaphor for opportunistic behavior: The word is used in the proverb "Giậu đổ bìm leo" to symbolize someone who takes advantage of another's misfortune, like a vine climbing over a fallen fence.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Plant):
  • Trong vườn mọc nhiều dây bìm. (Many morning glory vines are growing in the garden.)
  • Hoa bìm nở vào buổi sáng. (The morning glory flowers bloom in the morning.)
• Noun (Metaphorical):
  • Câu tục ngữ "Giậu đổ bìm leo" phê phán những kẻ cơ hội. (The proverb "The fence falls, the morning glory climbs" criticizes opportunists.)

Advanced Usage

• "bìm bìm": This is the more common, reduplicative form of the word, specifically meaning the morning glory plant.
  • Dây bìm bìm quấn quanh thân cây. (The morning glory vine twines around the tree trunk.)
• The metaphorical usage is almost exclusively found in the fixed proverb "Giậu đổ bìm leo". This idiom describes a situation where when one person falls (the fence collapses), others quickly take advantage to benefit themselves (the vine climbs over it).

Variants and Related Words

• Bìm bìm (n): Morning glory plant. This is the standard, more complete term for the plant.
• Dây bìm (n): Morning glory vine. A common compound specifying the plant's climbing nature.

Synonyms

• Cây nho (n): Grapevine (another type of climbing plant, but not the same species).
• Dây leo (n): Climber, creeper (a general term for any climbing plant).

Related Idioms

• Giậu đổ bìm leo: Literally "The fence falls, the morning glory climbs." It is a Vietnamese proverb equivalent to the English idioms "When the cat's away, the mice will play" or "To kick someone when they are down," describing opportunistic behavior.

1. như bìm bìm