háu
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Eager; impatient; keen: Describes a strong, often impatient, desire or craving for something, typically food or satisfaction of a need.
- Greedy; voracious: Can imply an insatiable or overly eager appetite, not just for food but for experiences or objects.
Adverb (in reduplicated form):
- Háu háu: With eager desire; covetously; avidly. This form intensifies the sense of craving or longing.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Thằng bé háu ăn. (The boy is always impatient to eat / is a voracious eater.)
- Nó háu đói quá. (He is too impatient to satisfy his hunger.)
- Adverb (reduplicated form):
- Nó nhìn hau háu vào chiếc bánh. (He looked at the cake with covetous eyes / devoured it with his eyes.)
Advanced Usage
- The word often carries a slightly negative or critical connotation, suggesting a lack of restraint or patience.
- "Ngựa non háu đá": A proverb meaning "a young horse is quick to kick." It metaphorically describes a young, inexperienced person who is rash, impulsive, or too eager to show off or fight.
Variants and Related Words
- Háu háu (adv): The reduplicated form used as an adverb to modify verbs, indicating the manner of doing something with intense eagerness.
Synonyms
- Eager: Having or showing keen interest or intense desire.
- Impatient: Restlessly eager.
- Voracious: Wanting or consuming great quantities.
- Avid: Having an eager and enthusiastic interest.
Related Idioms and Proverbs
- Ngựa non háu đá: Literally, "a young horse is quick to kick." Used to criticize youthful impulsiveness, rashness, or an eagerness to engage in conflict without experience or wisdom.
- Be always iaiet to [have one's desire met]
- Thằng bé háu ănThe little is always impatient to eat
- Háu đóiTo be impatient to satisfy one's hunger
- Hau háu (láy)To be eagerly desirous
- Nhìn hau háuTo look with covetous eyes; to devour (with one's eyes)
- Ngựa non háu đáYoung fighting-cook quickly ruffled