phun mưa
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To spray saliva like rain: A descriptive phrase specifically used to depict the action of a newborn baby blowing or spraying fine droplets of saliva through tightly closed lips.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Em bé sơ sinh đang phun mưa. (The newborn baby is spraying saliva.)
- Cứ mỗi lần ngậm môi lại, bé lại phun mưa. (Every time he purses his lips, the baby sprays saliva.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is almost exclusively used in a nurturing, observational context to describe a specific, harmless behavior of infants. It carries a tone of endearment or casual remark rather than medical description.
Variants and Related Words
- Phun nước bọt (v): to spit saliva. This is a more general term for the action.
- Con khỉ đang phun nước bọt. (The monkey is spitting saliva.)
Synonyms
- Dribble: to let saliva flow from the mouth.
- Bubble: to form saliva bubbles at the mouth (common in babies).
Notes on Meaning
- This is a fixed, idiomatic phrase in Vietnamese. It does not literally mean "to spray rain" but is a vivid metaphor comparing the fine spray of a baby's saliva to a light rain.
- It describes a passive, unintentional action typical of newborns, not an aggressive act of spitting.