Definition

1. Verb:
   • To chew the cud, to ruminate: "nhơi" is a dialectal verb used specifically to describe the action of cattle (such as buffaloes or cows) chewing their cud, which is the process of bringing previously swallowed food back into the mouth to chew it again.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Con trâu đang nhơi cỏ dưới bóng cây. (The buffalo is chewing its cud under the tree shade.)
  • Sau khi ăn no, đàn bò thường nằm xuống và nhơi. (After eating their fill, the herd of cows often lies down to ruminate.)

Advanced Usage

• This word is primarily used in rural or dialectal contexts within Vietnam. In formal or standard Vietnamese, the more common verb "nhai lại" is preferred.
  • Trong văn bản khoa học, người ta dùng "nhai lại" thay vì "nhơi". (In scientific texts, people use "nhai lại" instead of "nhơi".)

Variants and Related Words

• Nhai lại (verb): The standard Vietnamese term for "to chew the cud" or "to ruminate".
  • Động vật nhai lại có dạ dày bốn ngăn. (Ruminants have a four-chambered stomach.)
• Nhai (verb): To chew (general term for all animals and humans).
  • Trẻ em cần nhai kỹ thức ăn. (Children need to chew their food thoroughly.)

Synonyms

• Nhai lại (verb): to ruminate, to chew the cud (standard term).

Notes on Meaning

• The word "nhơi" has a very specific and narrow meaning. It refers exclusively to the ruminating behavior of certain animals like buffaloes and cows. It is not used for other types of chewing or for human actions.

1. (địa phương) Chew the cud (nói về trâu bò)