mó
Definition
Verb:
- To touch (lightly or tentatively): To make physical contact with something, often with the fingers or hand, in a cautious, gentle, or exploratory manner.
- To handle or tamper with: To touch or interfere with something, often with the implication that one should not do so.
Verb (figurative):
- To get involved with; to meddle in: To begin to deal with or become involved in a matter, person, or situation, often one that is complicated or sensitive.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Đứa trẻ tò mò mó vào mọi thứ trong phòng. (The curious child touches everything in the room.)
- Đừng mó vào ổ điện. (Don't touch the electrical socket.)
- Chẳng ai muốn mó đến công việc phức tạp đó. (No one wants to get involved with that complicated task.)
Advanced Usage
- "mó tay vào": to lay a finger on; to get involved in.
- Nó không dám mó tay vào đồ của tôi. (He doesn't dare lay a finger on my stuff.)
Variants and Related Words
- Sờ mó (v): to touch or feel (often with a connotation of inappropriate touching or groping).
- Cấm sờ mó vào các hiện vật trong bảo tàng. (It is forbidden to touch the artifacts in the museum.)
Synonyms
- Touch: to come into contact with.
- Handle: to touch or hold with the hands.
- Meddle: to interfere in something that is not one's concern.
Related Idioms
Mó đến đâu, hỏng đến đó: To ruin everything one touches.
- Cứ để nó sửa là mó đến đâu, hỏng đến đó. (If you let him fix it, he ruins everything he touches.)
Không dám mó đến: To not dare to touch or get involved with.
- Vấn đề nhạy cảm đến mức không ai dám mó đến. (The issue is so sensitive that no one dares to touch it.)