đòng đong

Một con đòng đong bơi lội trong hồ nước trong vắt.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Minnow; very small fish: Refers to tiny, immature fish, often used as bait or found in large schools in shallow freshwater.
   • Insignificant person or thing: Used metaphorically to describe someone or something considered trivial, powerless, or of little value.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trẻ con bắt đòng đong ở mương. (The children catch minnows in the ditch.)
  • Công ty đó chỉ là một đòng đong trong ngành công nghiệp này. (That company is just a minnow in this industry.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a dismissive or belittling way to emphasize a lack of importance, influence, or size.

Variants and Related Words

• Cá con (n): fry; small, young fish.
  • Ao đầy cá con. (The pond is full of fry.)

Synonyms

• Minnow: A small freshwater fish.
• Fry: Very young fish.
• Nonentity: An unimportant person or thing (for the metaphorical sense).

Related Idioms

• Như đòng đong trong chậu: Like minnows in a basin; used to describe a situation of crowded, restless movement within a confined space.
  • Chợ phiên đông người như đòng đong trong chậu. (The market fair was crowded with people moving about like minnows in a basin.)