Definition

1. Idiom (figurative expression):
   • To be well-off / to be comfortably well-to-do: The phrase "có bát ăn" literally means "to have a bowl to eat from." It is used to describe a person or family that has enough material means and financial stability to live comfortably, without struggling for basic necessities. It implies a state of being secure and not poor.

Usage Examples

• Idiom:
  • Gia đình họ thuộc diện có bát ăn trong làng. (Their family is considered well-off in the village.)
  • Ông ấy làm ăn phát đạt, giờ đã có bát ăn rồi. (His business is thriving; he is comfortably well-to-do now.)

Advanced Usage

• The idiom is often used in comparative or descriptive contexts to indicate social or economic standing within a community. It typically describes a stable, middle-class level of prosperity rather than extreme wealth.

Variants and Related Words

• Có của ăn của để: An idiom meaning "to have wealth and assets to spare," indicating a higher level of affluence than "có bát ăn."
  • Nhà họ không chỉ có bát ăn mà còn có của ăn của để. (Their family is not just well-off; they have wealth to spare.)

Synonyms

• Well-off: Having sufficient money for a comfortable living.
• Comfortable: Financially secure, without worries about basic needs.
• Prosperous: Successful in material terms; flourishing.

Related Idioms

• Ấm no: (warm and full) Describes a state of having enough food and clothing, a basic level of comfort and sufficiency.
  • Mong ước của họ là một cuộc sống ấm no. (Their wish is for a life of basic comfort and sufficiency.)
• No đủ: (full and sufficient) Similar to "ấm no," meaning to have enough to eat and be content.