vãi
Definition
Verb:
- To scatter; to spread; to sprinkle: The primary meaning refers to the action of dispersing or spreading small items loosely over an area.
- To sow (seeds): Used specifically in agricultural contexts for the act of sowing seeds by scattering them.
Verb (vulgar slang):
- To let out involuntarily; to leak: A crude, colloquial term for accidentally or uncontrollably releasing bodily waste (urine or flatulence).
Noun (archaic/dialectal):
- Female temple attendant; devout female Buddhist follower: An old or dialectal term for a nun or a faithful female worshipper who frequents pagodas.
Usage Examples
Verb (to scatter):
- Bà ấy vãi thóc cho gà. (She scatters rice for the chickens.)
- Nó vãi hạt giống ra đồng. (He sows seeds in the field.)
Verb (vulgar slang):
- Đứa bé sợ quá, vãi đái ra quần. (The child was so scared, he pissed his pants.)
Advanced Usage
"vãi lúa" / "vãi giống": technical terms for sowing rice or seeds by broadcasting (scattering).
- Ngày xưa, nông dân thường vãi lúa thay vì cấy mạ. (In the past, farmers often sowed rice by broadcasting instead of transplanting seedlings.)
"vãi" as an intensifier (extremely vulgar slang): Often used in exclamations for strong emphasis, typically preceding a noun or adjective to express extremity (e.g., vãi đạn = "extremely," literally "scatter bullets"). This usage is highly informal and offensive.
- Cái đồng hồ này đắt vãi! (This watch is damn expensive!)
Variants and Related Words
- Gieo vãi (v): to sow by scattering; to spread around (often abstract, like ideas).
- Họ đi gieo vãi những tin đồn thất thiệt. (They go around spreading malicious rumors.)
Synonyms
- Rắc: to sprinkle.
- Gieo: to sow.
- Phát tán: to disperse.
Related Idioms/Expressions
Vãi cả nước miếng: An exaggerated, vulgar expression meaning to be extremely astonished or salivating over something (literally: "to scatter saliva everywhere").
- Nghe tin ấy, tôi vãi cả nước miếng. (Hearing that news, I was utterly flabbergasted.)
Vãi linh hồn: A vulgar expression meaning to be extremely frightened (literally: "to scatter one's soul").
- Xem phim kinh dị xong, vãi linh hồn. (After watching the horror movie, I was scared shitless.)