Definition

1. Verb:

   • To wipe; to mop up: To clean or dry a surface by moving a soft cloth or similar object over it to remove liquid, dust, or dirt.
   • To polish (by wiping): To make a surface clean and shiny by wiping it.

2. Noun:

   • Reed: A type of tall, grass-like plant (genus Saccharum), similar to sugarcane, that grows wild in clumps, with a porous stem and white flowers clustered in a plume.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Mẹ lau bàn trước khi ăn cơm. (Mother wipes the table before having a meal.)
  • Cô ấy lau nước mắt bằng khăn tay. (She wiped her tears with a handkerchief.)
  • Anh ấy lau sàn nhà mỗi sáng. (He mops the floor every morning.)

• Noun:

  • Bờ sông mọc đầy lau. (The riverbank is full of reeds.)
  • Thân cây lau rất xốp. (The reed stem is very porous.)

Advanced Usage

• "lau chùi": To clean thoroughly by wiping and scrubbing. (Note: This is a compound word, not the target word alone).

  • Cần lau chùi nhà bếp cho sạch sẽ. (The kitchen needs to be cleaned thoroughly.)

• "sạch như li như lau" (Idiom): As clean as a whistle; extremely clean, without a single stain. (This idiom uses the noun form metaphorically).

  • Căn phòng được dọn dẹp sạch như li như lau. (The room was tidied up as clean as a whistle.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lau chau (adj): Awkward, clumsy (in movement or skill). (Note: This is a separate, distinct word).

  • Anh ta múa một cách lau chau. (He dances in a clumsy way.)

• Lau nhau (verb phrase, informal): To have a physical fight or scuffle.

  • Hai đứa trẻ lau nhau vì tranh giành đồ chơi. (The two children got into a fight over a toy.)

Synonyms

• Verb:
  • Chùi: To wipe, to scrub (often implies more friction).
  • Quét: To sweep (used for dry debris on floors).
• Noun:
  • Sậy: Reed, rush (another type of tall water plant).
  • Cỏ lác: Sedge (a different grass-like plant).

Related Phrases (Verb Usage)

• Lau dọn: To clean up (by wiping and tidying). (Compound word).

  • Chúng tôi phải lau dọn nhà cửa để đón Tết. (We have to clean up the house to welcome Tet.)

• Lau khô: To dry by wiping.

  • Hãy lau khô chén bát trước khi cất. (Please dry the dishes by wiping before putting them away.)

Related Idioms

• Ăn như *lau (like a reed)*: To eat very quickly and greedily. (Uses the noun form in a simile).
  • Thằng bé đói quá, nó ăn như lau. (The boy was so hungry, he ate like there was no tomorrow.)

noun

1. reed

verb

1. to wipe; to mop up. lau tay to wipe one's hand