Definitions

1. Noun:

   • Roof: The top covering of a building or structure.
   • Slope, Incline: A gently sloping surface, like the side of a hill or dike.
   • Hair (on the head): The hair growing on a person's head, often used in poetic or descriptive contexts.

2. Adjective:

   • Female (of birds or poultry): Refers to the female of a species, specifically birds like chickens, ducks, or birds in general.
   • Sallow, Pallid (of complexion): Describes a sickly, pale, or leaden-gray skin tone, often indicating illness.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Roof):
  • Mái nhà lợp ngói đỏ. (The house has a red-tiled roof.)
  • Mái đê thoai thoải. (The dike has a gentle slope.)
• Noun (Hair):
  • Mái tóc bạc của bà. (Her head of white hair.)
• Adjective (Female):
  • Con gà mái đang đẻ trứng. (The hen is laying eggs.)
  • Chim công mái. (A peahen.)
• Adjective (Complexion):
  • Nước da xanh mái. (A sallow, pale complexion.)

Advanced Usage

• "mái ấm": Literally "warm roof," figuratively means "home" or "hearth," symbolizing family and shelter.
  • Tìm về mái ấm gia đình. (To return to the family home/hearth.)
• "mái trường": Literally "school roof," figuratively means "school" or "alma mater," emphasizing it as a place of learning and shelter.
  • Nhớ mái trường xưa. (To remember one's old school.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mái che (n): Awning, shelter, canopy. A structure providing cover from sun or rain.
  • Mái che ga tàu. (The train station awning.)
• Mái hiên (n): Eaves, porch roof. The overhanging edge of a roof.
  • Ngồi tránh nắng dưới mái hiên. (Sitting in the shade under the eaves.)
• Mái tóc (n): (Head of) hair. A common compound specifically for hair.
  • Mái tóc dài. (Long hair.)

Synonyms

• Nóc (n): Roof, top. More technical or specific for the very top/peak of a roof.
• Mái nhà (n): House roof. A more specific compound.
• Gà mái (n): Hen. The full term for a female chicken.
• Xanh xao (adj): Pale, pallid. A more common adjective for a pale, sickly complexion.

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Lợp mái: To roof, to thatch. The action of installing a roof.
  • Lợp mái nhà bằng tôn. (To roof the house with metal sheets.)
• Che mái: To cover with a roof.
  • Công trình đang được che mái. (The construction is being roofed.)

Related Idioms

• "Chung mái ấm": To share a roof/home. Means to live together as a family.
  • Họ chung một mái ấm. (They share a home / are a family.)
• "Đầu bạc mái tóc": White-haired. A poetic way to describe old age.
  • Đầu bạc mái tóc theo năm tháng. (White-haired with the passing years.)

noun

1. roof

adj

1. hen; fermale
   • con công mái
     a peahen
   • con chim mái
     a female bird