sờ mó
Verb: - To touch (someone or something) with the hand(s), often in a deliberate, exploratory, or inappropriate manner. This verb typically implies a physical contact that involves feeling or handling, and it can carry a neutral, cautious, or negative connotation depending on the context. It often suggests touching something one should not, or touching in a way that is intrusive or improper.
The verb "sờ mó" is used to describe the act of touching. It is often employed in contexts warning against touching dangerous, delicate, or private things. It can also imply a persistent or inappropriate touching. - Basic Instruction/Warning: Used to tell someone not to touch something. - Descriptive Action: Used to describe the act of touching or handling something. - Negative Connotation: Can imply intrusive, improper, or unwanted physical contact.
- (Don't touch the electrical wire.)
- (The museum forbids touching the artifacts.)
- (The curious child touched everything in the room.)
- (He was accused of inappropriately touching someone without permission.)
- "Sờ mó lung tung": To touch things indiscriminately or all over the place. This phrase strongly emphasizes careless or forbidden touching.
- Ra chỗ công cộng đừng có sờ mó lung tung. (In public places, don't go around touching things indiscriminately.)
- The verb can sometimes carry a sexual connotation, meaning "to grope" or "to fondle," when referring to unwanted touching of a person's body.
- Sờ (verb): A more general and slightly less strong term for "to touch" or "to feel with hands." It can be neutral or negative depending on context.
- Sờ trán xem có sốt không. (Touch [feel] the forehead to see if there's a fever.)
- Mò (verb): To grope, to feel around (often in the dark or without looking). It is sometimes combined with "sờ" for emphasis ("sờ mó").
- Chạm (verb): To touch, to make contact. Often more neutral and can be used for both physical and abstract contact (e.g., chạm vào vấn đề = to touch on an issue).
- Động vào (phrasal verb): To lay a hand on, to touch. Often used in warnings.
- Đừng động vào cái bình đó! (Don't touch that vase!)
- Đụng chạm (verb): To touch, to come into contact; can also mean "to affect" or "to involve conflict."
- Cảm nhận (verb): To feel, to perceive (more about sensation than physical action).
- Sờ mó mò mẫm: To grope around, to feel one's way (often literally in the dark or figuratively when unsure).
- Mất điện, tôi phải sờ mó mò mẫm tìm cây nến. (The power was out, I had to grope around to find the candle.)
- Chơi chẳng mò đến sách vở: (Idiomatic) To play all day without touching one's books; to neglect one's studies completely.
- Thằng bé suốt ngày chơi game, chẳng mò đến sách vở. (The boy plays games all day, without touching his books at all.)