vọ
Definition
Noun:
- Little Owl: A small species of owl (genus Athene), often associated with sharp vision in Vietnamese culture.
- Figurative: Sharp/Piercing Eyes: Used to describe someone who has very keen, observant, or penetrating eyes.
Verb (colloquial):
- To scrounge / To mooch: To eat at someone else's expense; to obtain food or a meal by taking advantage of another's generosity without reciprocating.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Tiếng vọ kêu trong đêm. (The call of a little owl in the night.)
- Cô ấy có đôi mắt tinh như mắt vọ. (She has eyes as sharp as an owl's.)
- Verb:
- Hắn ta suốt ngày đến vọ cơm nhà hàng xóm. (He's always scrounging meals at the neighbor's house.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase "mắt như mắt vọ" (eyes like an owl's eyes) is a fixed simile to describe exceptional visual acuity or attentiveness.
Variants and Related Words
- Cú vọ (n): Another term for owl, specifying the type more clearly.
- Ăn vọ (v): A synonymous phrasal verb meaning to scrounge a meal.
Synonyms
- Noun: Little owl, owlet (for the bird); sharp eyes, keen eyes (for the figurative sense).
- Verb: To mooch, to scrounge, to sponge off someone.
Related Idioms
- Mắt như mắt vọ: To have eyes like a hawk; to be very observant.
- Bà chủ có mắt như mắt vọ, chẳng việc gì qua được. (The boss has eyes like a hawk; nothing gets past her.)