Definition

1. Noun:

   • Old woman (derogatory): A term for an elderly woman, often implying unpleasant characteristics like being mean, shrewish, or ugly.
   • Midwife (archaic, rural context): A woman who assists in childbirth, especially in traditional rural settings. Often appears in the compound "bà mụ".
   • Goddess (in folk belief): A female deity believed to shape a child's form and watch over it until the age of twelve, according to traditional Vietnamese spiritual beliefs. Associated with rituals ("cúng mụ").

2. Adjective:

   • Dull, torpid, mentally foggy: A state of being mentally slow, fatigued, or lacking sharpness, typically from overwork or exhaustion.

Usage Examples

• Noun (derogatory):

  • Con mụ đó lúc nào cũng cằn nhằn. (That old hag is always nagging.)
  • Đừng nghe lời con mụ gian xảo ấy. (Don't listen to that cunning old woman.)

• Noun (midwife):

  • Ngày xưa, bà tôi sinh em bé nhờ sự giúp đỡ của một bà mụ trong làng. (In the past, my grandmother gave birth with the help of a village midwife.)

• Noun (goddess):

  • Gia đình tổ chức lễ cúng mụ cho đứa trẻ mới sinh. (The family holds a ritual to worship the goddesses for the newborn child.)

• Adjective:

  • Làm việc liên tục 12 tiếng khiến đầu óc tôi mụ đi. (Working continuously for 12 hours made my mind dull.)
  • Ông ấy nói năng chậm chạp, có vẻ mụ người sau cơn bệnh. (He speaks slowly and seems mentally foggy after his illness.)

Advanced Usage

• "mụ mị": To be confused, bewildered, or mentally clouded.
  • Cơn sốt cao làm anh ta mụ mị, không nhận ra ai. (The high fever made him confused and unable to recognize anyone.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bà mụ (n): A specific term for a midwife or, in folklore, the collective goddesses of childbirth.
• Mụ dì (n): A term sometimes used interchangeably with "bà mụ" for a midwife.
• Lễ cúng mụ (n): The ceremonial offering to the birth goddesses.

Synonyms

• Noun (derogatory): Mụ già, mẹ mìn (very derogatory), bà già (less harsh).
• Noun (midwife): Người đỡ đẻ (person who assists birth).
• Adjective: Đần độn, mơ màng, không tỉnh táo.

Related Idioms

• Đầu óc mụ đi: (One's) mind has become dull/torpid.
  • Học bài cả đêm, sáng nay đầu óc tôi mụ đi. (I studied all night, and my mind is foggy this morning.)

1. Old hag
   • Con mụ khó tính
     An old hag of a woman
   • bà mụ (nói tắt).
     Become dull, become torpid from overwork