Definitions

1. Noun:
   • Sewer rat, brown rat: A specific species of rodent, typically larger than a house mouse, often found in sewers, basements, and urban areas. Scientifically known as Rattus norvegicus.
   • Common rat: Refers to the common, often brown or grey, rat associated with human habitats and considered a pest.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Thành phố đang có chiến dịch diệt chuột cống. (The city is running a campaign to exterminate sewer rats.)
  • Chuột cống thường sống trong các hệ thống cống rãnh. (Brown rats often live in sewer systems.)

Advanced Usage

• "chuột cống" vs. "chuột nhắt": While "chuột cống" refers specifically to the larger brown/sewer rat (), "chuột nhắt" refers to the smaller house mouse (). This is a key distinction in Vietnamese.
  • Chuột cống to hơn và hung dữ hơn chuột nhắt. (The brown rat is larger and more aggressive than the house mouse.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chuột (n): The general term for "rat" or "mouse". "Chuột cống" is a specific type of "chuột".
• Chuột đồng (n): Field mouse or vole.
• Chuột nhắt (n): House mouse.

Synonyms

• Rat: The general English equivalent.
• Brown rat: A more specific synonym.
• Norway rat: Another name for the same species ().
• Sewer rat: A descriptive synonym emphasizing its common habitat.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Nhanh như chuột cống: (As fast as a sewer rat). Used to describe someone or something moving very quickly, often in a sneaky or evasive manner.
  • Tên trộm chạy nhanh như chuột cống. (The thief ran as fast as a sewer rat.)

1. Sewer-rat, brown rat