Definition

1. Noun:
   • A useless, parasitic person; a good-for-nothing: A derogatory term for someone who only consumes resources (like food, money) without contributing any useful work or benefit to the family or society. It implies laziness and dependency.
   • A very long, indefinite, or improbable time in the future: Used in the fixed phrase "còn mọt cơm" to mean something will take a very long time to happen or may never happen at all.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Parasitic person):

  • Thằng đó chẳng làm được trò trống gì, chỉ là một thứ mọt cơm trong nhà. (That guy can't do anything useful, he's just a parasite in the house.)
  • Đừng có sống như một đồ mọt cơm, hãy tự kiếm việc mà làm. (Don't live like a good-for-nothing, go find a job for yourself.)

• Noun (Long/Improbable time - in the phrase "còn mọt cơm"):

  • Chờ nó trả tiền thì còn mọt cơm! (Waiting for him to pay back the money will take forever! / That'll be the day!)
  • Dự án này mà xong sớm thì còn mọt cơm. (If this project finishes early, I'll eat my hat. / It'll be a very long time before this project is finished.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is vulgar and highly insulting. It should be used with extreme caution, typically only in very informal, frustrated, or angry contexts.
• The phrase "còn mọt cơm" is an idiom. It is used to express strong skepticism that an event will ever occur or will only occur after an impossibly long time. It is similar to the English expressions "when pigs fly," "till the cows come home," or "at the Greek calends."

Variants and Related Words

• Ăn hại (v/n): To be a burden; to consume without producing. A slightly less vulgar synonym.
  • Nó suốt ngày chỉ biết ăn hại. (He only knows how to be a burden all day.)
• Ký sinh trùng (n): Parasite (biological term, can be used figuratively in a similar, though more formal/technical, derogatory sense).
• Vô tích sự (adj): Useless, good-for-nothing.

Synonyms

• Đồ ăn bám: A freeloader, a sponger.
• Kẻ ăn không ngồi rồi: An idler, a person who sits around doing nothing.

Related Idioms

• Còn mọt cơm: As explained above, means "it will take forever" or "it will never happen."
  • Chờ nó giàu có thì còn mọt cơm. (Waiting for him to become rich will take forever.)

1. Useless outh, parasite