khăn tày vố
Definition
- Noun:
- A large, coarse towel: A traditional, roughly woven cloth, typically made of coarse cotton or hemp, used for drying the body after bathing or for heavy-duty cleaning. It is characterized by its substantial size and rough texture.
- (Figurative) A significant setback or a heavy blow: Used colloquially to describe a severe failure, a major loss, or a substantial piece of bad news that feels like being struck hard.
Usage Examples
Noun (Literal):
- Sau khi tắm, ông lão dùng khăn tày vố để lau người. (After bathing, the old man used a large coarse towel to dry himself.)
- Chiếc khăn tày vố này thấm nước rất tốt. (This large coarse towel absorbs water very well.)
Noun (Figurative):
- Đội bóng nhận một khăn tày vố khi thua 0-5. (The team received a heavy blow when they lost 0-5.)
- Tin công ty phá sản là một khăn tày vố với tất cả nhân viên. (The news of the company's bankruptcy was a major setback for all employees.)
Advanced Usage
- The figurative usage is informal and often conveys a sense of something being overwhelmingly negative or humiliating. It implies an impact that is difficult to recover from quickly.
Variants and Related Words
- Khăn tắm (n): Bath towel. A general term for a towel used after bathing, which can be softer and less coarse than a .
- Khăn mặt (n): Face towel. A smaller towel for drying the face.
Synonyms
- Coarse towel (literal).
- Major setback, heavy blow, devastating loss (figurative).
Related Idioms
- Bị tặng cho một cái khăn tày vố: To be given a heavy blow/a major setback. This phrase is used to describe the experience of receiving bad news or suffering a significant defeat.
- Sau vụ kiện, công ty bị tặng cho một cái khăn tày vố tài chính. (After the lawsuit, the company was dealt a heavy financial blow.)