yếm dãi
Noun: A bib; a piece of cloth, often triangular or shaped like a small apron, tied around a baby's or young child's neck and chest to protect their clothing from drool, spit-up, or food spills.
The word yếm dãi is used specifically to refer to the protective cloth for infants and toddlers. It is a common, practical item in childcare. - Mẹ đeo yếm dãi cho em bé trước khi cho ăn. (Mother puts a bib on the baby before feeding.) - Chiếc yếm dãi này đã thấm đầy nước dãi. (This bib is soaked with drool.) - Nhớ mang theo yếm dãi khi cho con đi chơi. (Remember to bring a bib when taking the child out.)
- The term is compound, formed from yếm (a traditional Vietnamese bodice/chest cloth) and dãi (drool/saliva), literally meaning "drool bib/cloth."
- It is sometimes used metaphorically or humorously to describe an adult who is messy while eating, though this is less common.
- Ăn uống cẩn thận kẻo người ta bảo mang yếm dãi vào. (Eat carefully, or people will tell you to put on a bib.)
- Yếm: A traditional Vietnamese garment, a piece of cloth worn to cover a woman's chest and abdomen. It is the root word in yếm dãi.
- Tã dãi / Khăn dãi: Less common synonyms for yếm dãi, also meaning "drool cloth" or "bib."
- Bavoir: The French loanword sometimes used in Vietnamese, especially in older contexts or influenced by French culture.
- Tấm che dãi: Literally "drool-protecting piece."
- Khăn cổ (for babies): Literally "neck cloth," though this can be more general.
There are no common phrasal verbs or idioms directly using yếm dãi. Its usage is almost entirely literal, referring to the physical object.