Definition

1. Noun:
   • The smell of money, the scent of copper/coins: "hơi đồng" literally means "the vapor/air of copper" and is used metaphorically to refer to money or wealth, especially when it arouses greed or desire.
   • Money, lucre: The term is used to denote money, particularly in contexts highlighting its corrupting influence or the greed it incites.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Máu tham hễ thấy hơi đồng thì mê. (Greed always gets stirred up at the sight of gold/money.)
  • Kẻ ấy chỉ chạy theo hơi đồng mà quên đi đạo lý. (That person only chases after money and forgets morality.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in literary, proverbial, or critical contexts to comment on human greed and the allure of material wealth. It is not used in everyday, neutral conversations about money.
• It often carries a negative connotation, implying that the pursuit of money is base or morally questionable.

Variants and Related Words

• Đồng tiền (n): Coin, money. A more common and neutral term for money.
• Tiền bạc (n): Money, wealth. A general term for financial resources.
• Hơi (n): Vapor, air, breath, hint. When combined with other nouns, it can form metaphorical compounds (e.g., - the allure of alcohol).

Synonyms

• Tiền: Money.
• Của cải: Wealth, assets.
• Lợi lộc: Profit, gain.

Related Idioms

• Thấy hơi đồng thì mê: (To be) mesmerized by the smell of money; to be easily tempted by wealth. This is the classic idiom from which the term is best known.
• Chạy theo đồng tiền: To run after money; to be overly materialistic.

1. Money, gold
   • "Máu tham hỡi thấy hơi đồng thì mê" (Nguyễn Du)
2. Greed always gets stirred up at the sight of gold