Definition

1. Noun:
   • Butterflies and bees: Literally refers to the insects, but this is rarely the primary meaning in modern usage.
   • Libertines, flirtatious people, or flirtatious behavior: Used metaphorically to describe people, especially men, who are frivolous, promiscuous, or engage in casual flirtation without serious intent. It carries a negative connotation of being insincere or unfaithful in romantic matters.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ta nổi tiếng là kẻ bướm ong. (He is famous for being a libertine / a flirt.)
  • Cô ấy chán ngấy những lời bướm ong của hắn. (She is fed up with his flirtatious words.)

Advanced Usage

• "buông lời bướm ong" / "thả lời bướm ong": To speak flirtatiously; to utter sweet but insincere words to seduce or flirt.
  • Hắn chỉ quen thói buông lời bướm ong với mọi cô gái. (He is just in the habit of dropping flirtatious lines to every girl.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ong bướm: A less common variant with the same metaphorical meaning.
• Bướm: (Noun) Butterfly. Can be used alone in some poetic or informal contexts to imply flirtation.
• Lả lơi: (Adjective) Flirtatious, coquettish. A synonym describing similar behavior.
• Trăng hoa: (Adjective) Promiscuous, philandering. A stronger synonym focusing on unfaithfulness.

Synonyms

• Libertine: A person, especially a man, who behaves without moral principles or a sense of responsibility, especially in sexual matters.
• Flirt: A person who behaves in a flirtatious manner.
• Philanderer: A man who readily or frequently enters into casual sexual relationships with women.

Related Phrases

• Ăn nói ong bướm: To speak in a sweet, charming, but often insincere way.
  • Đừng tin những lời ăn nói ong bướm của hắn. (Don't believe his sweet-talking / his smooth talk.)

Related Idioms

• Đa tình như ong bướm: (To be) as promiscuous as butterflies and bees; to be very flirtatious or unfaithful.
  • Tính anh ấy đa tình như ong bướm, chẳng gái nào tin được. (He is as promiscuous as they come; no girl can trust him.)

1. Butterflies and bees; the libertine set
   • buông lời bướm ong
     to drop words of a libertine; to flirt