ngưu
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - Cow, ox, cattle: A general term for large domesticated bovine animals, particularly cows and oxen. This is a literary or classical term, less common in modern everyday speech. - Buffalo: In some contexts, it can also refer to the water buffalo.
Usage Examples
- As a noun (cow/ox):
- Ngưu nhũ là một thức uống bổ dưỡng. (Cow's milk is a nutritious drink.)
- Trong thơ cổ, "ngưu" thường tượng trưng cho sự cần cù. (In classical poetry, the "ox" often symbolizes diligence.)
Advanced Usage
- "ngưu tầm ngưu, mã tầm mã": A classical Vietnamese idiom meaning "birds of a feather flock together." It literally translates to "the ox seeks the ox, the horse seeks the horse." It is used, often with a negative connotation, to describe people associating with others who are similar to them in character (usually implying a bad trait).
- Bọn lười biếng cứ tụ tập với nhau, đúng là ngưu tầm ngưu, mã tầm mã. (The lazy ones keep gathering together; it's truly a case of birds of a feather flock together.)
Variants and Related Words
- Trâu: (noun) The common, modern word for water buffalo.
- Bò: (noun) The common, modern word for cow or ox.
- Ngưu nhũ: (noun phrase) Cow's milk. (Note: This is a compound term where "ngưu" is a component).
Synonyms
- Bò: Cow, ox (modern, common synonym).
- Trâu: Buffalo (common synonym for the buffalo meaning).
Related Idioms
- Ngưu tầm ngưu, mã tầm mã: As explained in Advanced Usage. This is the primary idiom containing this word.