Definition

1. Noun:
   • Mouth, lips (often used to refer to speech or eating): "Mồm miệng" refers to the physical mouth and lips, but its primary use is figurative, emphasizing the function of speaking or eating. It often carries a slightly informal or critical tone.
   • Way of speaking, speech: It commonly denotes a person's manner of speaking, what they say, or their talkativeness.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cô ấy có cái mồm miệng rất khéo. (She has a very clever/smooth way of speaking.)
  • Đừng tin hết những gì từ cái mồm miệng của hắn. (Don't believe everything that comes from his mouth/his talk.)
  • Chú ý cái mồm miệng của mình vào! (Watch your mouth!/Be careful what you say!)

Advanced Usage

• "Giữ mồm giữ miệng": To hold one's tongue, to be careful about what one says, to think twice before speaking.
  • Trong cuộc họp quan trọng, tốt nhất là nên giữ mồm giữ miệng. (In an important meeting, it's best to hold your tongue.)
• The word is often used in negative contexts to criticize someone's speech (e.g., being rude, gossipy, or indiscreet).

Variants and Related Words

• Mồm (n, informal): Mouth. Often used similarly but can be cruder.
  • Im mồm! (Shut your mouth!)
• Miệng (n): Mouth. The standard, more neutral term.
  • Vết thương ở miệng. (A wound on the mouth.)
• Lời nói (n): Words, speech. The standard term for spoken words.
  • Lời nói chân thành. (Sincere words.)

Synonyms

• Lưỡi (n): Tongue (figuratively for speech). also means to hold one's tongue.
• Khẩu (n, literary): Mouth, speech (used in formal or compound words like - karma of speech).

Related Phrases

• Mồm mép (n): Similar to "mồm miệng," emphasizing persuasive or glib talk.
  • Anh ta chỉ giỏi mồm mép. (He's only good at smooth talk.)
• Đầu môi chót lưỡi (idiom): Mere lip service, insincere talk.
  • Lời hứa đầu môi chót lưỡi. (An empty promise/just lip service.)

Related Idioms

• Mồm loa mép giải (idiom): To be very loud-mouthed and talkative; a big mouth.
  • Bà ấy nổi tiếng mồm loa mép giải trong xóm. (She's famous in the neighborhood for being loud-mouthed and talkative.)
• Ăn không nói có (idiom): To fabricate stories; to say things that are not true.
  • Đừng có ăn không nói có! (Don't make things up!/Don't lie!)

1. Mouth, tongue
   • Giữ mồm giữ miệng
     To think twice about speaking