để giống
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To save for seed / to keep for seed: The primary agricultural meaning refers to the practice of reserving a portion of a harvest (such as grains, tubers, or fruits) to be used as seeds for planting the next crop.
- To preserve a breed / to keep for breeding: In animal husbandry, it means to keep specific animals (e.g., the healthiest or best) for the purpose of reproduction and maintaining the livestock line.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Nông dân để giống lúa cho vụ sau. (The farmer saves rice seeds for the next crop.)
- Họ để giống những con lợn nái tốt nhất. (They keep the best sows for breeding.)
- Nhớ để giống khoai lang lại, đừng bán hết. (Remember to save some sweet potatoes for seed; don't sell them all.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can be used metaphorically in informal contexts to imply keeping or reserving something of good quality or fundamental importance for future use or continuity.
- Công ty luôn để giống một số nhân tài chủ chốt. (The company always keeps a reserve of key talent.)
Variants and Related Words
Giống (n): seed; breed; strain; variety.
- hạt giống (n): seed (literal grain).
- giống vật nuôi (n): livestock breed.
Để dành (v): to save, to set aside (a more general term, not specific to agriculture).
Synonyms
- To reserve for seed: to set aside for planting.
- To keep for breeding: to retain for reproduction.
- To set aside as stock: to reserve for future propagation.
Related Idioms
- "Để giống làm giống": A reinforcing idiom emphasizing the deliberate action of saving something specifically for its reproductive or foundational purpose.
- Số ngô này phải để giống làm giống, không được xài bừa. (This corn must be carefully saved for seed; it cannot be used carelessly.)