Definition

1. Noun:
   • Tapir: A large, herbivorous mammal with a short, flexible proboscis (trunk), native to the forests of Southeast Asia and Central/South America. The Vietnamese name "heo vòi" literally describes its pig-like body ("heo") and trunk-like nose ("vòi").

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Heo vòi là một loài thú ăn đêm và sống đơn độc. (The tapir is a nocturnal and solitary animal.)
  • Con heo vòi con có bộ lông đốm để ngụy trang. (A baby tapir has a spotted coat for camouflage.)
  • Chúng tôi đã nhìn thấy một con heo vòi Malaya trong chuyến tham quan rừng. (We saw a Malayan tapir during our forest tour.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "heo vòi" is a specific zoological name. In everyday conversation, it is less common than simply naming the animal, but it is the standard term in biology, wildlife documentaries, and zoos.
• It can be used metaphorically to describe something with a similar shape, though this is rare.
  • Chiếc máy hút bụi cũ có cái "heo vòi" dài. (The old vacuum cleaner has a long "trunk".)

Variants and Related Words

• Heo vòi Malaya / Heo vòi châu Á (n): Malayan tapir / Asian tapir ().
• Heo vòi núi (n): Mountain tapir ().
• Heo vòi Brazil (n): Brazilian tapir / South American tapir ().
• Heo vòi Baird (n): Baird's tapir ().

Synonyms

• Con lợn vòi: A less formal, descriptive synonym with the same meaning (pig with a trunk).
• Tapir: The direct English loanword used in scientific and international contexts.

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms directly using "heo vòi". Its usage is almost exclusively literal, referring to the animal itself.

1. Raphis pallm. raphis stick, raphis cane