mọt thóc
Definition
- Noun:
- Rice weevil: A small beetle (scientific name: Sitophilus oryzae) that is a common pest of stored grains, especially rice. It bores into and feeds on the kernels, causing damage.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Kho thóc bị nhiễm mọt thóc. (The rice granary is infested with rice weevils.)
- Mọt thóc có thể phá hủy một lượng lớn lương thực. (Rice weevils can destroy a large amount of grain.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is used literally to refer to the insect pest. It can sometimes be used metaphorically to describe a person who consumes or depletes resources from within, similar to "a parasite."
Variants and Related Words
- Mọt (n): A general term for borers or weevils (e.g., - woodworm).
- Sâu mọt (n): A collective term for pests and borers; can also refer to corrupt elements within an organization.
Synonyms
- Grain weevil
- Rice beetle
Related Idioms
- While not a common idiom itself, the word mọt appears in phrases like "mọt sách" (bookworm), describing a person who reads voraciously.