Definition

1. Verb:
   • To search painstakingly; to rummage meticulously: To look for something with great patience, care, and thoroughness, often involving physical handling or sifting through items.
   • To tinker; to fiddle with: To work on something, especially a mechanical or technical task, in a careful, persistent, and experimental manner to understand, repair, or create it.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy mày mò trong gara tìm dụng cụ. (He rummaged meticulously in the garage for tools.)
  • Cô ấy mày mò sửa chiếc radio cũ. (She tinkered with fixing the old radio.)
  • Nhà nghiên cứu mày mò trong các tài liệu lưu trữ. (The researcher searched painstakingly through the archival documents.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb often implies a process that is time-consuming, done with one's hands, and requires curiosity and perseverance. It is frequently used for self-directed learning or problem-solving without formal guidance.

Variants and Related Words

• Mò mẫm (v): To grope or feel around, often in the dark or when unsure; to proceed by trial and error. This word emphasizes a greater sense of uncertainty or lack of visual guidance compared to "mày mò".
  • Anh ấy mò mẫm công thức nấu ăn mới. (He groped for a new cooking recipe.)

Synonyms

• To rummage: To search untidily and thoroughly.
• To tinker: To attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or experimental way.
• To delve: To research or search deeply and thoroughly.

Related Idioms

• Mày mò học hỏi: To learn through persistent, hands-on experimentation and study.
  • Cậu bé mày mò học hỏi cách lập trình. (The boy learned programming through persistent tinkering.)