cháo

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The Vietnamese word "cháo" is a noun that primarily refers to a type of food, specifically a thin rice porridge or gruel. It is commonly eaten in Vietnam and can be made with various ingredients, making it a versatile dish.

Basic Usage:

• Cháo is often served as a comforting meal, especially for breakfast or when someone is feeling unwell. It is usually made by cooking rice in a lot of water until it becomes soft and soupy.

Examples:

• Cháo cá: This means "fish gruel," which is a type of cháo made with fish. It is nutritious and popular among those who enjoy seafood.
• Cháo lòng: This translates to "chitterling gruel," which includes pig intestines and is a traditional dish in some regions.

Advanced Usage:

• The phrase "màu cháo lòng" describes a color that is a dull, dirty grey, similar to the color of the gruel. This expression can be used to describe objects or the appearance of things that are unappealing in color.
• Another expression is "thuộc như cháo," which means "to know by heart" or "to have at one's fingertips." This suggests that someone is very familiar with something, like how well someone knows a recipe or a particular skill.

Word Variants:

• While "cháo" is primarily used to refer to the porridge itself, it can be combined with other words to describe different types of cháo (like cháo gà for chicken porridge).

Different Meanings:

• Besides referring to food, "cháo" can also have metaphorical meanings in idioms and expressions, as mentioned above.

Synonyms:

• A synonym for "cháo" in the context of a thin rice porridge could be "súp" (soup), although "súp" typically refers to a thicker, more broth-like soup rather than the thin consistency of cháo.

Academic

noun

1. Gruel, soup
   • cháo cá
     fish gruel
   • cháo lòng
     chitterling gruel
   • màu cháo lòng
     chitterling gruel coloured, dirty grey
   • thuộc như cháo
     to know by heart, to have at one's fingertips