Definition

1. Noun:
   • Confections; Sweets; Candy: A general term for sweet food items, typically made with sugar or other sweeteners. It encompasses a wide variety of treats, from hard candies to soft, chewy ones.
   • Preserves; Candied fruits: Specifically refers to fruits that have been cooked and preserved in sugar syrup, often until they become translucent or crystallized, such as candied ginger or preserved apricots.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Mẹ tôi thường làm nhiều loại kẹo mứt để ăn Tết. (My mother usually makes many types of preserves and confections for the Lunar New Year.)
  • Cửa hàng bán đủ loại kẹo mứt đầy màu sắc. (The shop sells all kinds of colorful candies and sweets.)
  • Kẹo mứt dừa là món ưa thích của tôi. (Candied coconut is my favorite sweet treat.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "kẹo mứt" is often used collectively to describe the assortment of sweet snacks traditionally prepared and consumed during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tết). It symbolizes hospitality, sweetness, and prosperity for the coming year.

Variants and Related Words

• Kẹo (n): Candy, sweet. Typically refers to individual pieces of candy, like hard candy or chewy candy.

  • Đứa trẻ thích ăn kẹo socola. (The child likes to eat chocolate candy.)

• Mứt (n): Preserve; candied fruit. Specifically refers to fruits, peels, or sometimes roots that are candied or preserved in sugar.

  • Mứt bí là một món ăn truyền thống. (Candied pumpkin is a traditional treat.)

Synonyms

• Sweets: A general term for sweet-tasting food.
• Confections: A formal term for elaborate sweet dishes or candy.
• Preserves: Fruit cooked with sugar to prevent spoilage.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Ngọt như kẹo mứt": As sweet as candy. Used literally to describe something very sweet, or figuratively to describe flattering, sweet words.
  • Lời nói của anh ấy ngọt như kẹo mứt. (His words are as sweet as candy.)

1. Preserves, confections