miêu
Definition
- Noun:
- Cat: A small domesticated carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout, and retractable claws. It is often kept as a pet. This is a less common, slightly archaic, or literary term for "cat" in Vietnamese, with "mèo" being the standard, everyday word.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Con miêu nằm cuộn tròn bên lò sưởi. (The cat lay curled up by the fireplace.)
- Tiếng kêu của con miêu nghe thật kỳ lạ. (The cry of the cat sounded very strange.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "miêu" is sometimes used in folk tales, poetry, or older texts to evoke a certain rustic or traditional feeling. In modern spoken Vietnamese, using "miêu" instead of "mèo" may sound unusual, poetic, or deliberately old-fashioned.
Variants and Related Words
- Mèo (n): The standard and most common word for "cat".
- Con mèo đang bắt chuột. (The cat is catching a mouse.)
Synonyms
- Cat: A small domesticated feline animal.
- Feline: Relating to or affecting cats or other members of the cat family.
Related Idioms
- Mèo mả gà đồng: (Literally: cemetery cat and field chicken) A derogatory idiom referring to promiscuous or untrustworthy people of low social standing.
- Hạng mèo mả gà đồng ấy không đáng tin. (Those lowlife types are not trustworthy.) (Note: This idiom uses "mèo," the more common form.)