Definition

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.

Usage

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.)

Advanced Usage

• 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.)

Variants and Related Words

• 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.

Synonyms

• Tấm che dãi: Literally "drool-protecting piece."
• Khăn cổ (for babies): Literally "neck cloth," though this can be more general.

Related Phrases/Idioms

There are no common phrasal verbs or idioms directly using yếm dãi. Its usage is almost entirely literal, referring to the physical object.

noun

1. bib