Definition

1. Noun:
   • Earwax, cerumen: A yellowish, waxy substance secreted in the ear canal. It protects the ear by trapping dust and small particles and preventing bacterial growth.
   • (Botany) Alocasia: A genus of tropical plants, often with large, heart-shaped leaves. Some species have edible corms but require careful preparation as they can cause irritation.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Earwax):

  • Không nên dùng tăm bông để lấy ráy tai sâu. (You should not use cotton swabs to dig out earwax deeply.)
  • Ráy tai ướt là hoàn toàn bình thường. (Wet earwax is completely normal.)

• Noun (Plant):

  • Củ ráy có thể gây ngứa nếu chế biến không kỹ. (The alocasia corm can cause itching if not processed thoroughly.)
  • Lá cây ráy rất to. (The alocasia leaf is very large.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "ráy" is most commonly used in the compound form "ráy tai" to specifically mean . When used alone in a botanical context, it is understood from the situation.
• In formal medical contexts, "cerumen" is the technical term for earwax.

Variants and Related Words

• Ráy tai (n): Earwax. This is the most frequent and specific compound.

  • Bác sĩ sẽ lấy ráy tai cho bạn. (The doctor will remove your earwax.)

• Củ ráy (n): Alocasia corm or tuber.

  • Củ ráy phải luộc nhiều lần mới hết ngứa. (The alocasia tuber must be boiled many times to remove the irritants.)

Synonyms

• Earwax: Cerumen.
• Plant: Alocasia, Taro (for some similar-looking species, though they are different plants).

Related Idioms and Expressions

• Đói ăn ráy, ăn khoai: (Proverb) Literally "When hungry, eat alocasia, eat potatoes." It means to make do with whatever is available in times of scarcity or hardship.

  • Ông bà ta có câu "Đói ăn ráy ăn khoai" là nói về sự chịu đựng. (Our grandparents have the saying "When hungry, eat alocasia, eat potatoes" which speaks of endurance.)

• Ngứa như ăn phải củ ráy: (Simile) "Itchy as if having eaten alocasia corm." Used to describe an intense, irritating itch.

  • Bị cây này đụng vào, ngứa như ăn phải củ ráy. (Touched by this plant, it's as itchy as if I ate alocasia corm.)

1. Ear-wax, cerumen.
2. (thực vật) Alocasia