lúa ma
Definition
- Noun:
- Weedy rice / wild rice: A type of rice plant that grows spontaneously and is often considered a pest in cultivated rice fields. It is characterized by its early shattering of seeds and vigorous growth.
- Deceptive rice / phantom rice: Refers to its nature of appearing and growing undesirably among cultivated rice, reducing crop yield and quality.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ruộng lúa này bị nhiễm lúa ma. (This rice field is infested with weedy rice.)
- Lúa ma thường cho hạt rụng sớm trước khi thu hoạch. (Weedy rice often sheds its seeds early before harvest.)
Advanced Usage
- In agricultural science, "lúa ma" is a serious weed problem in direct-seeded rice systems. Its seeds can remain dormant in the soil for many years.
Variants and Related Words
- Lúa dại (n): A synonym for wild rice or uncultivated rice species.
- Một số giống lúa dại có thể được tìm thấy ở vùng ngập nước. (Some wild rice varieties can be found in wetlands.)
Synonyms
- Weedy rice: The common agricultural term.
- Wild rice: Emphasizes its uncultivated, spontaneous growth. (Note: This is distinct from the North American wild rice used as food.)
- Red rice: Often used interchangeably in some contexts due to grain color.
Related Idioms
- While not a direct idiom, "lúa ma" is sometimes used colloquially to describe something that appears useless, deceptive, or detrimental among something valuable.
- Công ty có vài nhân viên như lúa ma, chỉ gây rối. (The company has a few employees who are like weedy rice, only causing trouble.)