kẻ ăn bám
In Vietnamese, the English phrase 'bum' is translated as kẻ ăn bám.
The phrase is used to describe a person who avoids work and relies on others for money or food. It is commonly used to criticize family members or partners who do not contribute financially or work and instead rely entirely on others.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of kẻ (person/one who), ăn (to eat) and bám (to cling/to latch onto), literally meaning the person who clings to eat.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
kẻ ăn bám is an informal and derogatory term used to insult someone's character or lifestyle. For a formal way to refer to a homeless person, you should use người vô gia cư. For an informal term, you may also use Bụi đời.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term kẻ ăn bám is a noun phrase used to describe a person, and it does not change form for singular or plural usage.
Did you know?
- While kẻ ăn bám focuses on being a parasite, the informal term Bụi đời literally translates to 'dust of life'.
- The word ăn (to eat) is part of many Vietnamese compound words that describe ways of surviving or behaving, such as 'eating' a person's money or 'eating' someone's blame.
- The term kẻ used in this phrase is related to the Muong word ké, showing a linguistic connection between different groups in the region.
Examples in context
- Anh ta chỉ là kẻ ăn bám thôi.He is just a bum.
- Tôi không muốn làm kẻ ăn bám.I don't want to be a bum.
Example conversation
Minh and Mai are discussing a lazy relative.
- MinhAnh ấy không chịu đi tìm việc làm.He refuses to look for a job.
- MaiĐúng vậy, anh ta đúng là một kẻ ăn bám.Exactly, he really is a bum.
- MinhTôi thấy thật tội cho chị ấy.I feel sorry for her.
- MaiChị ấy nên bảo anh ta tự lập đi.She should tell him to be independent.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kẻ, ăn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
