Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Very hard, exhausting: Describes work or effort that is extremely difficult, demanding, and tiring, pushing one to their physical or mental limits.
   • Grueling, arduous: Conveys a sense of labor so intense it feels as if one is "vomiting bile," a visceral metaphor for extreme strain.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Công việc đồng áng này thật sự mửa mật. (This farm work is truly exhausting.)
  • Anh ấy đã làm việc mửa mật để hoàn thành dự án đúng hạn. (He worked extremely hard to complete the project on time.)

Advanced Usage

• Used as a predicate adjective: Often follows the verb "làm" (to do/work) to describe the nature of the effort.
  • Học cho kỳ thi này thật là mửa mật. (Studying for this exam is really grueling.)
• Figurative use: While literal translation involves bile, it is used figuratively to emphasize extreme difficulty, not a medical condition.

Variants and Related Words

• Mệt mửa (adj): Extremely tired, worn out.
  • Làm xong việc, tôi thấy mệt mửa. (After finishing the work, I felt completely exhausted.)
• Cực nhọc (adj): Hard, laborious, toilsome (a more standard synonym).
  • công việc cực nhọc (hard work)

Synonyms

• Cực kỳ vất vả: Extremely hard/tough.
• Khổ cực: Toilsome, full of hardship.
• Nặng nhọc: Heavy, arduous (for labor).

Notes on Usage

• Register: This is a colloquial and vivid expression. It is strong and somewhat vulgar due to its graphic imagery ("vomiting bile"). It is suitable for informal contexts to express strong emotion but may be inappropriate in formal writing or speech.
• Context: Primarily used to describe demanding physical labor or mentally taxing tasks. It emphasizes the speaker's subjective feeling of the effort being excessive and draining.

1. Very hard, exhausting
   • Làm việc mửa mật cả một tuần mới xong được việc
     To get a job done only after a week of very hard work