ăn dỗ mồi

Trẻ con thường chỉ thích ăn dỗ mồi hơn là ăn cơm.

Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To eat more side dishes than rice (said of children): A descriptive phrase referring to a child's eating habit where they consume a larger portion of the accompanying dishes (like meat, fish, vegetables) compared to the staple food, typically rice.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Thằng bé chỉ thích ăn dỗ mồi thôi. (The little boy only likes to eat the side dishes [and not much rice].)
  • Con không được ăn dỗ mồi, phải ăn cơm nhiều vào. (You must not just eat the side dishes; you have to eat more rice.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often carries a gentle, slightly critical or advisory tone used by parents or caregivers to correct a child's imbalanced diet during a meal.

Variants and Related Words

• Ăn vạ (v): To throw a tantrum to get one's way.
• Ăn kiêng (v): To diet, to eat restrictively.

Synonyms

• To pick at one's food (focusing on favorites): Though not a direct synonym, it describes a similar selective eating habit.
• To eat disproportionately: A more general descriptive term.

Related Idioms

• Ăn như mèo: To eat like a bird (to eat very little).
• Ăn không nên đọi, nói không nên lời: To be unable to eat or speak properly (to be ill-mannered or incompetent).