Definition

1. Verb:

   • To scoop up (with one's hands): To gather and lift something, typically a loose or granular substance like rice or sand, by using both hands cupped together.
   • To be frightened / to be scared: To experience sudden fear or alarm. (This usage is less common in modern language).
   • (Slang) To earn or acquire (money) quickly and easily: To gain a large amount of something, especially profit, as if simply gathering it up.

2. Noun (Historical):

   • Ivory (or bone) tablet: A ceremonial tablet made of ivory or bone, held by mandarins or officials in historical Vietnam when wearing formal court dress.

Usage Examples

• Verb (To scoop up):

  • Cô ấy hốt gạo bị đổ trên sàn. (She scooped up the rice spilled on the floor.)
  • Đứa trẻ hốt cát bằng hai tay. (The child scooped up sand with both hands.)

• Verb (To be frightened):

  • Nghe tiếng động lạ, nó hốt quá. (Hearing a strange noise, he got really scared.)

• Verb (To earn quickly):

  • Công việc kinh doanh này đang hốt tiền. (This business is coining money / making a killing.)

• Noun (Historical):

  • Vị quan cầm hốt trước ngực. (The mandarin held the ivory tablet in front of his chest.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb "hốt" often implies a quick, somewhat rough, or greedy gathering action, especially in its modern figurative use related to money.
• In the historical context, the "hốt" (tablet) was a symbol of official rank and authority.

Variants and Related Words

• Hốt hoảng (v): To panic, to be in a state of frantic fear.

  • Mất ví, cô ấy hốt hoảng tìm kiếm. (Losing her wallet, she panicked and searched frantically.)

• Hốt bạc (v, slang): To rake in money, to make a lot of money quickly.

  • Mùa lễ hội, các quán ăn hốt bạc. (During the festival season, the food stalls rake in money.)

Synonyms

• Scoop / Gather: To collect into a pile and lift.
• Frighten / Scare: To become afraid.
• Rake in / Coin money: To earn money rapidly and in large amounts.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Hốt gạo đánh vãi: Literally "to scoop up rice that has been spilled." This idiom criticizes a futile or inefficient effort, like trying to meticulously clean up a mess that is inherently wasteful.

  • Làm thế chẳng khác nào hốt gạo đánh vãi. (Doing that is no different from scooping up spilled rice—a futile effort.)

• Hốt của: A colloquial phrase meaning "to make a killing" or "to clean up" (financially).

  • Bán hàng online dịp Tết, anh ta hốt của. (Selling goods online during Tet, he made a killing.)

1. Ivory (bone) tablet (hold by mandarins when in formal dress)
2. Be frightened
3. Scoop up (with one's hands)
   • Hốt gạo đánh vãi
     To scoop up with one's hands some spilled rice.
4. (b) Coin (money)
   • Đi luôn lãi như thế thật là hốt của
     His trade is so profitable, he is just coining money.
5. (tiếng địa phương) như hót