thay lông
Definition
- Verb:
- To molt / to moult: The primary meaning of "thay lông" is the biological process where an animal sheds its old feathers, fur, hair, or skin to make way for new growth. This is common in birds, mammals, and reptiles.
- To change one's coat: This is a more general description of the same process, specifically for mammals shedding fur.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Những con chim đang thay lông. (The birds are molting.)
- Con mèo của tôi thay lông vào mùa xuân. (My cat sheds its fur in spring.)
- Rắn thay lông nhiều lần trong năm. (Snakes shed their skin many times a year.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is used almost exclusively in a zoological or biological context to describe a natural, cyclical process in animals. It is not typically used metaphorically for people.
Variants and Related Words
- Lột xác (v): to slough; to shed skin (specifically for reptiles like snakes). It can also be used metaphorically for a person undergoing a major transformation.
- Rụng lông (v): to lose hair/feathers/fur. This can describe the result of "thay lông" or more general, non-cyclical hair loss.
Synonyms
- Molt / Moult: the standard biological term.
- Shed: to cast off a natural outer covering.
- Cast off: to shed skin or feathers.
Related Idioms
- There are no common idioms directly using "thay lông." The process is typically described literally.