Definition

1. Noun:
   • Mussel (freshwater): A small, edible bivalve mollusk with a hard, round shell, living in freshwater environments such as rivers and lakes. It belongs to the same family as clams but is typically smaller.
   • Metaphor for silence: Used in the idiom "câm như hến" (dumb as a mussel) to describe someone who is completely silent or refuses to speak.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Canh hến là một món ăn đặc sản của miền Trung. (Mussel soup is a specialty dish of Central Vietnam.)
  • Trẻ con hay ra sông bắt hến. (Children often go to the river to gather mussels.)
  • Khi bị hỏi, nó chỉ im lặng, câm như hến. (When asked, he just stayed silent, dumb as a mussel.)

Advanced Usage

• "câm như hến": An idiom meaning "as silent as a mussel" or "dumb as an oyster," used to describe a person who is extremely quiet or unresponsive, especially when expected to speak.
  • Cô ấy cứ ngồi đó, câm như hến suốt buổi họp. (She just sat there, silent as a mussel throughout the meeting.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nghêu (n): Clam. A related but typically larger saltwater bivalve.

  • Nghêu hấp sả là món khoái khẩu của tôi. (Steamed clams with lemongrass are my favorite dish.)

• Trai (n): Freshwater mussel (often larger). A close relative, sometimes used interchangeably in general contexts.

  • Trai sông có thể dùng để lọc nước. (River mussels can be used to filter water.)

Synonyms

• Freshwater clam: A general term for small, edible bivalves in freshwater.
• Bivalve mollusk: The scientific category for shellfish like mussels and clams.

Related Idioms

• Câm như hến: As mentioned, this is the primary idiom. It emphasizes absolute silence or muteness.
  • Bị thầy giáo phê bình, nó câm như hến không nói được lời nào. (Criticized by the teacher, he was dumb as a mussel and couldn't say a word.)

noun

1. mussel
   • câm như hến
     dumb as a fish