con cúi

Bà tôi thường dùng con cúi để nhóm bếp củi.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small bundle of firewood: "con cúi" refers to a small, bound bundle of twigs, sticks, or straw, traditionally used as kindling to start a fire.
   • A small torch: Historically, it can also refer to a small, handheld torch made of bound flammable material.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Bà tôi thường dùng con cúi để nhóm bếp củi. (My grandmother often uses a small bundle of kindling to start the wood stove.)
  • Trong bảo tàng có trưng bày một con cúi ngày xưa dùng để thắp sáng. (The museum displays an old small torch used for lighting.)

Advanced Usage

• This word is considered archaic or dialectal in modern Vietnamese and is primarily encountered in historical contexts, literature, or when describing traditional rural life.

Variants and Related Words

• Củi (n): Firewood. This is the more common, general term for firewood, of which a "con cúi" is a small bundle.
• Bó đuốc (n): Torch. A more general term for a torch.

Synonyms

• Bó củi nhỏ: Small bundle of firewood.
• Mồi lửa: Kindling, fire starter.

Notes on Usage

• The reference "xem cúi" (see 'cúi') indicates that "con cúi" is directly related to the word "củi" (firewood). The prefix "con" is a common classifier for animals and certain objects, here implying a small, discrete unit of firewood.
• It is rarely used in contemporary everyday language. The general term củi is used for firewood, and modern kindling is often referred to descriptively (e.g., "củi mồi," "giấy để nhóm lửa").