mèo hoang
Definition
- Noun:
- Feral cat: A domestic cat that has returned to a wild state, living independently of human care and often in colonies.
- Stray cat: A cat that is lost or abandoned and lives without a permanent home, but may still be somewhat socialized to humans.
- Wildcat (in a general sense): In common usage, it can refer to small wild felines, though this is less precise.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Khu vườn bỏ hoang là nơi trú ẩn của nhiều con mèo hoang. (The abandoned garden is a shelter for many feral cats.)
- Cô ấy thường để thức ăn ra cho những chú mèo hoang trong ngõ. (She often puts food out for the stray cats in the alley.)
- Tiếng mèo hoang kêu vào ban đêm nghe rất đáng sợ. (The sound of feral cats crying at night is very scary.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "mèo hoang" often carries a connotation of resilience, independence, and a tough, untamed life, unlike a pampered pet.
- It can be used metaphorically to describe a person who is fiercely independent, unruly, or lives outside conventional social norms.
- Anh ta sống như một con mèo hoang, không thuộc về nơi nào. (He lives like a stray cat, belonging nowhere.)
Variants and Related Words
Mèo nhà (n): Domestic cat, house cat.
- Mèo nhà thường thân thiện hơn mèo hoang. (Domestic cats are usually friendlier than feral cats.)
Mèo rừng (n): Wildcat (specifically referring to true wild feline species like the Asian wildcat).
- Mèo rừng là một loài động vật hoang dã được bảo vệ. (The wildcat is a protected wildlife species.)
Synonyms
- Stray cat: A homeless cat.
- Feral cat: A cat born and raised in the wild with little human contact.
- Alley cat: An informal term for a cat living on the streets.
Related Idioms and Phrases
Sống kiểu mèo hoang: To live a wandering, unsettled, or independent life.
- Sau khi mất việc, anh ấy sống kiểu mèo hoang suốt mấy tháng. (After losing his job, he lived like a stray cat for months.)
Mắt mèo hoang: (Eyes like a feral cat's) Describing eyes that are wary, sharp, or glowing in the dark.
- Đứa trẻ có đôi mắt mèo hoang, nhìn xuyên thấu mọi thứ. (The child has feral cat eyes, seeing through everything.)