xơ múi

Một người nông dân thu hoạch xơ múi từ cây cam trong vườn.

Definition

1. Noun (colloquial, often vulgar):
   • A small, insignificant gain or advantage; a paltry benefit. Refers to a trivial or negligible profit obtained from an activity or situation. It carries a dismissive or contemptuous tone, implying the gain is not worth the effort.
   • A tiny share or portion. Can refer to a minuscule or pitiful part of something larger, such as profits or benefits.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Làm việc cả tháng mà chẳng được xơ múi nào. (Worked for a whole month and didn't get any paltry gain at all.)
  • Công ty lớn ăn hết, chúng tôi chỉ hưởng chút xơ múi. (The big company takes everything; we only get a tiny share.)
  • Việc đó chẳng có xơ múi gì đâu, đừng làm. (There's no advantage whatsoever in that matter, don't do it.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is inherently informal and often used in negative constructions (e.g., ) to emphasize the complete absence of any worthwhile benefit.
• It frequently appears in contexts discussing unfair distribution of profits, rewards, or benefits, highlighting a sense of being short-changed.

Variants and Related Words

• Mút xơ múi (v, vulgar): To try to eke out or scrounge for the last tiny bit of gain; to pick over the scraps.
  • Họ đã chia hết lợi nhuận, giờ chỉ còn mút xơ múi. (They've divided all the profits, now there's only picking over the scraps left.)

Synonyms

• Pittance: A very small or inadequate amount of money.
• Scraps: Leftover bits, especially of something desirable.
• Modicum: A small quantity of a particular thing, especially something desirable.

Related Idioms

• Chẳng được/ăn xơ múi nào: To not get any share or benefit whatsoever.
  • Dự án thất bại, nhà đầu tư chẳng được xơ múi nào. (The project failed, the investors didn't get a scrap of benefit.)