xương xảu
Definition
Noun:
- Bones (as leftovers from a meal): Refers to bones, typically small, leftover after eating meat, often implying they are of little value or are discarded scraps.
- A worthless part or scrap: Used figuratively to describe a leftover piece of little value, the worst part of something, or a reject.
Adjective:
- Bony / Osseous: Describes a person or thing that is very thin, gaunt, or full of bones.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- Ăn xong, đừng vứt xương xảu xuống sàn. (After eating, don't throw the bones on the floor.)
- Họ lấy hết phần ngon, chỉ để lại xương xảu cho chúng tôi. (They took all the good parts, leaving only the scraps for us.)
Adjective:
- Ông ấy trông rất xương xảu sau trận ốm. (He looks very bony after his illness.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a negative connotation, emphasizing worthlessness, undesirability, or poor quality in both literal and figurative contexts.
Variants and Related Words
- Xương xẩu: An alternative spelling with the same meaning.
- Xương: The standard word for "bone." is a more specific, often colloquial derivative.
Synonyms
- Scraps / Leftovers (for the noun sense of worthless parts).
- Gaunt / Skeletal (for the adjective sense).
Related Idioms
- Đồ xương xảu: A derogatory phrase meaning "worthless stuff" or "junk."
- Căn phòng chứa toàn đồ xương xảu. (The room is full of junk.)