ngồi xổm
Definition
- Verb:
- To squat: To sit in a position with the knees bent and the heels close to or touching the buttocks, often with the thighs resting on the calves. The body is lowered, and the buttocks are not resting on a surface like a chair or the ground.
- To crouch: To lower the body into a similar position, often for a short time, to hide, to work at a low level, or to prepare to spring.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Các bác nông dân thường ngồi xổm khi làm cỏ. (Farmers often squat when weeding.)
- Đứa trẻ ngồi xổm xuống để nhìn con kiến. (The child crouched down to look at the ant.)
- Anh ấy mệt đến nỗi chỉ muốn ngồi xổm xuống sàn. (He was so tired he just wanted to squat on the floor.)
Advanced Usage
"ngồi xổm chờ": to squat and wait, implying a patient or expectant posture.
- Người thợ săn ngồi xổm chờ con mồi. (The hunter squatted, waiting for his prey.)
"ngồi xổm ăn cơm": to squat while eating, a common traditional practice in some rural areas.
- Ở một số vùng quê, mọi người có thói quen ngồi xổm ăn cơm. (In some rural areas, people have the habit of squatting to eat their meal.)
Variants and Related Words
- Ngồi chồm hỗm (v): A synonym for "ngồi xổm," describing the same squatting position, sometimes with a nuance of being hunched or abrupt.
- Nó ngồi chồm hỗm ở góc vườn. (He squatted in the corner of the garden.)
Synonyms
- Squat: To sit in a crouching position with the knees bent.
- Crouch: To bend the knees and lower the body into a compact position.
Related Idioms
- Ngồi xổm gặp rồng: Literally "to squat and meet a dragon," implying unexpectedly encountering something great or important while in a humble or low position. Similar to "being in the right place at the right time."
- Câu chuyện của anh ấy đúng là ngồi xổm gặp rồng. (His story is truly a case of squatting and meeting a dragon / a lucky break.)