ăn lén
Definition
- Verb:
- To eat stealthily / to sneak food: The primary meaning of "ăn lén" is to consume food secretly or furtively, typically to avoid being seen or to avoid sharing.
- To pilfer food: It implies taking and eating food that one is not supposed to have, often in a sneaky manner.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Đứa trẻ ăn lén một cái kẹo trong tủ. (The child sneaked a candy from the cupboard.)
- Nó có thói quen ăn lén ban đêm. (He/She has a habit of eating stealthily at night.)
Advanced Usage
- The action often carries a connotation of guilt, mischief, or a lack of permission. It is frequently used to describe the behavior of children or pets.
Variants and Related Words
- Ăn vụng: This is a direct synonym with identical meaning and usage.
- Con mèo hay ăn vụng thức ăn trên bàn. (The cat often steals food from the table.)
Synonyms
- To sneak food: To eat secretly.
- To pilfer food: To steal food in small quantities.
Related Idioms
- While "ăn lén" itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, the behavior is central to the common phrase "ăn vụng như mèo" (to eat stealthily like a cat), which describes someone who is a sneaky eater.
- Nó ăn vụng như mèo, chẳng bao giờ chịu chia cho ai. (He/She eats stealthily like a cat, never willing to share with anyone.)