giun giẹp
Definition
- Noun:
- Flatworm: A type of invertebrate animal belonging to the phylum Platyhelminthes, characterized by a soft, flattened body. This is the primary scientific meaning.
- (Figurative, colloquial) A spineless or groveling person: Used to describe someone who is excessively submissive, cowardly, or lacking in backbone.
Usage Examples
Noun (Literal):
- Sán lá gan là một loài giun giẹp ký sinh. (The liver fluke is a type of parasitic flatworm.)
- Trong bài học sinh học, chúng tôi quan sát giun giẹp dưới kính hiển vi. (In the biology lesson, we observed flatworms under the microscope.)
Noun (Figurative):
- Hắn ta chỉ là một kẻ giun giẹp, chẳng dám đứng lên bảo vệ lẽ phải. (He is just a spineless worm, not daring to stand up for what is right.)
- Đừng có giun giẹp trước mặt sếp như thế! (Don't grovel in front of the boss like that!)
Advanced Usage
- The figurative usage is strongly pejorative. It implies contempt for someone's lack of courage or dignity.
- It is often used in comparisons or insults to emphasize extreme weakness or servility.
Variants and Related Words
- Giun dẹp: A less common variant with the same meaning.
- Giun: (Noun) Worm. A more general term.
- Sán: (Noun) Fluke or tapeworm. A specific type of parasitic flatworm.
Synonyms
- Kẻ hèn nhát: (Noun) Coward.
- Kẻ nịnh bợ: (Noun) Sycophant, flatterer (emphasizes the groveling aspect).
- Kẻ yếu hèn: (Noun) Weakling.
Related Idioms
- While "giun giẹp" itself is used idiomatically, there are no common fixed idioms that incorporate this exact phrase. Its figurative use is the idiomatic expression.