ăn khảnh
Definition
- Adjective:
- To be a picky or finicky eater: Describes a person, especially a child, who eats very little, is very selective about food, or has a delicate and fussy appetite.
- To eat sparingly and daintily: Refers to the manner of eating in small quantities and with excessive selectiveness.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Đứa bé này ăn khảnh lắm, chỉ ăn cơm trắng với thịt kho thôi. (This child is a very picky eater; he only eats plain rice with braised pork.)
- Cô ấy ăn uống rất khảnh, mỗi bữa chỉ một chút xíu. (She eats very sparingly and daintily, just a tiny bit each meal.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a mildly critical or exasperated tone, implying the eating habits are overly delicate or difficult to please.
- It is commonly used to describe children's eating behavior but can apply to adults, sometimes suggesting affectation or excessive fussiness.
Variants and Related Words
- Ăn ít (v): to eat little. (Neutral description of quantity.)
- Kén ăn (adj): to be choosy/fussy about food. (A more common synonym for being a picky eater.)
Synonyms
- Finitely eater: A person who is excessively particular about food.
- Picky eater: A person who is very selective about what they eat.
- To eat like a bird: (Idiom) To eat very small amounts.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Làm duyên làm dáng: to put on airs, to act affectedly. (Can be related contextually when "ăn khảnh" implies pretentious behavior.)
- Ăn như mèo: (Idiom) To eat like a cat; to eat very little.