tó
Definition
- Noun:
- A small, tight bundle or tuft: Refers to a small, compact cluster of long, thin, flexible items like hair, thread, grass, or straw, often tied or naturally gathered together.
- (Regional/Dialectal) A prop, a support, a strut: A stick or pole used to support or hold something upright, such as a cart or a vehicle, to prevent it from tipping over.
Usage Examples
- Noun (bundle/tuft):
- Cô bé buộc tóc thành một tó nhỏ trên đỉnh đầu. (The little girl tied her hair into a small tuft on top of her head.)
- Mèo con chơi đùa với một tó rơm. (The kitten plays with a bundle of straw.)
- Noun (prop/support):
- Bác nông dân chống tó vào xe bò khi dỡ hàng. (The farmer put a prop under the ox cart while unloading.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "tó" is considered literary or regional. In everyday modern Vietnamese, synonyms like "búi" (bun, bundle) or "nắm" (handful) are more common for the first meaning. For the second meaning, words like "chống" (prop, support) or "cọc chống" (supporting stake) are more frequently used.
Variants and Related Words
- Búi tó: A reinforced phrase meaning a small, knotted bundle or tuft.
- Bà ấy vấn tóc thành một búi tó gọn gàng. (She twisted her hair into a neat little bun.)
Synonyms
- Tuft, bundle, clump (for hair, grass, straw).
- Prop, strut, support, brace (for a cart or structure).
Related Idioms
- "Tóc bạc từng tó": (Literally: Hair turning white in tufts) An idiom describing rapid aging or the sudden appearance of many white hairs, often due to worry or hardship.