ăn lá

Sâu ăn lá đang gặm một chiếc lá xanh trên cành cây.

Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To eat leaves: The literal meaning of "ăn lá" refers to the act of consuming leaves as food, typically used for herbivorous animals or insects.
   • To feed on foliage: Describes the dietary habit of organisms that primarily consume the leaves of plants.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Con sâu này chỉ ăn lá cây. (This caterpillar only eats leaves.)
  • Hươu cao cổ thích ăn lá trên ngọn cây. (Giraffes like to eat leaves from the tops of trees.)

Advanced Usage

• In a biological or ecological context, "ăn lá" specifies a herbivorous feeding strategy.
  • Nhiều loài côn trùng trong rừng nhiệt đới chuyên ăn lá. (Many insect species in the tropical forest specialize in eating leaves.)

Variants and Related Words

• Động vật ăn lá (n): leaf-eating animal, folivore.
  • Con koala là một động vật ăn lá nổi tiếng. (The koala is a famous leaf-eating animal.)

Synonyms

• Browse: to feed on leaves and shoots.
• Graze: (though more commonly for grass) to eat growing vegetation.

Related Idioms

• Ăn lá ngón: Literally "to eat leaves," which refers to a poisonous plant. Figuratively, it means to commit suicide or to engage in a self-destructive action.
  • Đừng có hành động như ăn lá ngón. (Don't act like you're eating poison leaves / committing suicide.)