khỉ cộc
Definition
- Noun:
- Short-tailed monkey / stump-tailed macaque: A specific type of macaque (Macaca arctoides) characterized by its notably short tail, reddish face, and dark brown fur. It is native to the forests of Southeast Asia.
- Colloquial insult: Used as a derogatory term to call someone foolish, stupid, or clumsy, implying they are like a crude, unsophisticated monkey.
Usage Examples
Noun (animal):
- Trong rừng, chúng tôi thấy một con khỉ cộc. (In the forest, we saw a stump-tailed macaque.)
- Khỉ cộc thường sống thành đàn. (Stump-tailed macaques usually live in troops.)
Noun (insult):
- Đồ khỉ cộc! Lại làm đổ vỡ rồi! (You clumsy oaf! You broke it again!)
- Nó cư xử như một con khỉ cộc vậy. (He behaves like a stupid monkey.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in folk sayings or insults to emphasize a lack of intelligence or grace, drawing a direct comparison to the animal's perceived nature.
Variants and Related Words
- Khỉ (n): monkey, ape. The general term.
- Bầy khỉ đang chuyền cành. (The troop of monkeys is swinging from branches.)
- Khỉ đột (n): gorilla.
- Khỉ đột là một loài linh trưởng lớn. (The gorilla is a large primate.)
Synonyms
- Stump-tailed macaque: The primary zoological term.
- Bear macaque: Another common name for the same species.
- Oaf / clumsy fool: For the insulting usage.
Related Idioms
- Khỉ lại là khỉ: A saying meaning "a monkey will always be a monkey," used to suggest that someone cannot change their foolish or base nature.
- Đừng trông chờ nó thay đổi, khỉ lại là khỉ. (Don't expect him to change; a fool remains a fool.)