Definition

1. Noun:
   • Malabar spinach: A tropical leafy green vine (Basella alba or Basella rubra) commonly used as a vegetable in Southeast Asian cuisine. It has thick, fleshy, heart-shaped leaves and a mild, slightly mucilaginous texture when cooked.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Rau mùng tơi thường được nấu canh. (Malabar spinach is often used to cook soup.)
  • Mẹ tôi trồng mùng tơi trong vườn. (My mother grows Malabar spinach in the garden.)
  • Canh cua nấu với mùng tơi rất ngon. (Crab soup cooked with Malabar spinach is very delicious.)

Advanced Usage

• The plant is sometimes referred to by its specific color varieties, such as mùng tơi tía (red-stemmed Malabar spinach).

Variants and Related Words

• Rau mùng tơi (n): Malabar spinach (the common term, emphasizing it as a vegetable).
• Mồng tơi (n): An alternative and equally common spelling for the same plant.

Synonyms

• Vine spinach: A direct descriptive synonym in English.
• Ceylon spinach: Another common English name for the same plant.
• Basella: The scientific genus name, sometimes used as a common name.

Related Idioms

• There are no widely recognized idioms specifically featuring 'mùng tơi'. Its usage is almost exclusively literal, pertaining to the vegetable itself.