xêu

Mẹ dùng đôi đũa cả để xêu cơm từ nồi.

Definition

1. Verb (dialectal):
   • To take or scoop (cooked rice from a pot): The primary meaning of "xêu" is to lift or remove cooked rice from a cooking pot using a specific, large pair of serving chopsticks or a rice scoop.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Mẹ tôi dùng đôi đũa cả để xêu cơm từ nồi. (My mother uses the large serving chopsticks to scoop rice from the pot.)
  • Cơm chín rồi, anh xêu ra bát đi. (The rice is cooked, please scoop it into bowls.)

Advanced Usage

• The action described by "xêu" is specific to the context of food preparation and serving, particularly for staple foods like rice. It implies a careful, portioning action.

Variants and Related Words

• Xới cơm (v): a more common, standard term meaning to scoop or dish out rice.
  • Chị ấy đang xới cơm cho mọi người. (She is dishing out rice for everyone.)

Synonyms

• Scoop: to take up or out with a scoop or spoon.
• Ladle: to serve with a ladle (though typically for liquids).
• Dish out: to serve food, especially from a large container.

Notes on Usage

• "Xêu" is considered a regional or dialectal word in Vietnamese and is not commonly used in standard formal writing or nationwide communication. The standard term is "xới" (for rice) or "múc" (for general scooping). Its usage is tied to traditional kitchen utensils like large bamboo or wooden chopsticks.