Definition

1. Noun:
   • Cat's whiskers: A direct translation referring to the long, stiff hairs (vibrissae) on a cat's face that serve as a sensory organ.
   • Orthosiphon aristatus: The common name for a medicinal plant species, also known as Java tea or kidney tea. This is the primary botanical and pharmaceutical meaning.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Plant):
  • Râu mèo là một loại thảo dược phổ biến. (Cat's whiskers is a common herbal remedy.)
  • Bà tôi thường uống trà râu mèo. (My grandmother often drinks Java tea.)
• Noun (Animal):
  • Con mèo cụt một bên râu mèo. (The cat is missing one side of its whiskers.)

Advanced Usage

• In botanical and pharmaceutical contexts, "râu mèo" almost exclusively refers to the plant, used for its diuretic and kidney-supporting properties.

Variants and Related Words

• Cây râu mèo (n): Cat's whiskers plant. This compound explicitly specifies the plant.
  • Cây râu mèo mọc hoang ở nhiều nơi. (The cat's whiskers plant grows wild in many places.)

Synonyms

• Java tea: A common English name for the herbal tea made from the plant.
• Kidney tea: Another English name highlighting its medicinal use.
• Orthosiphon: The scientific genus name.
• Whiskers: The sensory hairs on an animal (for the literal meaning).

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms directly using "râu mèo." The term is primarily used in its literal or botanical sense.