Definition

1. Noun:
   • Zebra dove (Geopelia striata): A small, slender dove species native to Southeast Asia, characterized by its distinctive black and white barring ("zebra" pattern) on the neck and upper breast, and soft grayish-brown plumage.
   • Peaceful dove: A common name for this bird, referring to its gentle nature and soft cooing call.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Tiếng cu gáy và tiếng cu ngói là những âm thanh quen thuộc ở làng quê. (The calls of the turtledove and the zebra dove are familiar sounds in the countryside.)
  • Một đôi cu ngói đang kiếm ăn trên sân. (A pair of peaceful doves are foraging in the yard.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "cu ngói" is often used in Vietnamese poetry and folk songs to evoke images of rural peace, simplicity, and nostalgia.

Variants and Related Words

• Cu (n): A general term for doves and pigeons.
• Cu gáy (n): Spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis), a slightly larger and more common relative.

Synonyms

• Zebra dove
• Peaceful dove
• Barred ground dove

Related Idioms

• While there is no direct idiom with "cu ngói", birds in the "cu" family often symbolize rustic life. A related concept is:
  • Thanh bình như tiếng cu gáy: As peaceful as the call of a dove. (This idiom typically uses "cu gáy" but evokes the same family of birds as "cu ngói".)