Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Smelly, having a strong and unpleasant odor: Specifically used to describe the distinct, often gamey or fatty smell associated with certain meats like mutton, goat, or aged beef. It implies an odor that many find unappetizing or difficult to eat.
   • Rank, gamy: Conveys a similar meaning to the strong smell of mature meat or animal fat.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tôi không ăn được thịt dê vì nó hơi hoi. (I can't eat goat meat because it is a bit gamy.)
  • Mùi hoi của mỡ bò khiến một số người khó chịu. (The rank smell of beef fat makes some people uncomfortable.)
  • Thịt để lâu bắt đầu có mùi hoi. (The meat left out for a long time started to smell bad/rank.)

Advanced Usage

• "hoi hoi" (reduplicated form): This form softens the intensity of the adjective, meaning "slightly smelly" or "having a faint unpleasant odor."
  • Cái tủ lạnh này có mùi hoi hoi. (This refrigerator has a slightly off smell.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hôi (adj): A more general and stronger term for something foul-smelling or stinky (e.g., rotten food, body odor). is often more specific to certain meat odors.
  • Rác để lâu ngày rất hôi. (The trash left for many days is very stinky.)

Synonyms

• Gamy: Having the strong flavor or smell of game, especially when slightly tainted.
• Rank: Having a strong and unpleasant smell.
• Pungent: Having a sharply strong taste or smell.

Related Idioms

• While itself is not commonly used in many idioms, its stronger counterpart appears in phrases like:
  • Hôi như cú: To stink like an owl (a very strong insult implying someone is extremely foul-smelling).

1. Smelly (like mutton, beef fat...)
   • Không thích ăn thịt cừu sợ mùi hoi
     To dislike mutton because of its smell
   • Hoi hoi (láy, ý giảm)