đồng nát
Definition
- Noun:
- Scrap metal: The primary meaning of "đồng nát" refers to old, used, or discarded metal items, typically copper, brass, or other non-ferrous metals, collected for recycling or resale.
- Junk metal / Scrap: More broadly, it can refer to various kinds of worn-out metal objects considered worthless in their current form but valuable as recyclable material.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Người thu mua đồng nát đi khắp các con phố. (The scrap metal collector goes through all the streets.)
- Họ để đống đồng nát ở sau nhà. (They left the pile of scrap metal behind the house.)
- Nghề thu gom đồng nát giúp nhiều người có thu nhập. (Collecting scrap metal provides income for many people.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often associated with the trade and informal economy of collecting and recycling waste materials. It implies items that are broken, obsolete, or no longer functionally useful.
Variants and Related Words
- Đồng phế liệu (n): A more formal term for scrap copper or metal scrap.
- Ve chai (n): A broader term for general scrap and recyclables (e.g., paper, plastic, glass bottles), which often includes "đồng nát."
Synonyms
- Scrap metal: Discarded metal for reprocessing.
- Junk metal: Old or useless metal items.
- Recyclable metal: Metal waste destined for recycling.
Related Idioms and Cultural Notes
- While not a formal idiom, "đồng nát" is culturally linked to the image of street collectors who buy or collect scrap metal, often using a distinctive call or traveling on bicycles or carts. It represents an important part of the informal recycling chain in Vietnam.
- Thu mua đồng nát (v): The common phrase for the activity of buying scrap metal.
- Tiếng rao "Ai đồng nát bán không?" rất quen thuộc. (The call "Anyone selling scrap metal?" is very familiar.)