Definition

1. Noun:
   • Tray; Salver: A flat, typically round object, often made of wood, metal, or plastic, used for serving food or carrying dishes.
   • A spread of food; A meal setting: Refers to a complete set of dishes and food arranged on a tray or table for a specific number of people, often used in the context of communal or ceremonial meals.
   • A round, flat object resembling a tray: Used metaphorically or descriptively for objects with a similar shape, such as certain mechanical parts.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Mẹ bưng mâm cơm ra bàn. (Mother brought the rice tray to the table.)
  • Tiệc cưới có hơn năm mươi mâm cỗ. (The wedding feast had over fifty banquet tables/spreads.)
  • Mặt trăng tròn như một chiếc mâm bạc. (The full moon is round like a silver tray.)

Advanced Usage

• "mâm cao cỗ đầy": A lavish, sumptuous feast with many dishes piled high.

  • Đám cưới nhà họ thật linh đình với mâm cao cỗ đầy. (Their wedding was truly grand with lavish feasts.)

• "mâm cỗ": A ceremonial or festive meal spread, often for traditional occasions like Tết (Lunar New Year) or weddings.

  • Bà nội chuẩn bị mâm cỗ cúng ông bà. (Grandmother prepared a ceremonial feast to worship the ancestors.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mâm bồng (n): A tall, footed tray or salver, often used for ceremonial purposes.

  • Người phục vụ dùng mâm bồng để bưng trà. (The server used a footed salver to carry the tea.)

• Mâm xôi (n): A specific tray of sticky rice, often paired with a boiled chicken as a traditional offering.

  • Lễ vật gồm một mâm xôi và một con gà luộc. (The offering includes a tray of sticky rice and a boiled chicken.)

Synonyms

• Tray: A flat board used for carrying food and drinks.
• Platter: A large flat dish used for serving food.
• Spread: An array of food set out on a table.

Related Idioms

• "Tròn như mâm": As round as a tray; used to describe something perfectly circular.

  • Cái bánh xe cũ tròn như mâm. (The old wheel was as round as a tray.)

• "Cơm chưa đỗ, mâm chưa bưng": Literally "The rice isn't cooked yet, the tray isn't carried yet"; meaning things are not yet settled or finalized, cautioning against premature celebration.

  • Đừng vội mừng, đúng là cơm chưa đỗ mâm chưa bưng mà. (Don't celebrate too soon; it's truly a case of counting your chickens before they hatch.)

noun

1. tray; salver; waiter
   • mâm đồng
     copper tray