cỏ dại
[kɔ˧˩ zaːj˧˨ʔ]word by word
In Vietnamese, the English phrase "weed" (meaning an unwanted plant) is translated as cỏ dại.
The term cỏ dại refers to an unwanted plant growing in a garden or field. While cỏ dại is the standard term for a plant, different words are used when referring to marijuana or cannabis in a slang or formal context.
Meaning: unwanted plant (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
cỏ dại is a compound of cỏ (grass) and dại (wild or unwanted), literally meaning "wild grass".
Which one should you use?
When referring to the drug marijuana, use the formal term cần sa or the informal term cỏ. In terms of actions, làm cỏ is a general term for the task of weeding, whereas nhổ cỏ specifically describes the physical act of pulling weeds out by their roots.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To describe the action of weeding or removing weeds, use the verb phrase làm cỏ, which literally means "to do grass work".
Did you know?
- While cỏ dại means 'weed', the word dại can also mean 'stupid' or 'naive' when describing a person. In the context of plants, however, it shifts meaning to 'wild' or 'unmanaged'.
- In Vietnamese culture, cỏ is not just grass but a symbol of resilience and vitality. Because it grows back quickly after being cut, it is often used in poetry to represent a persistent spirit.
- The modern use of cỏ to refer to marijuana is likely a 'calque' of the English word 'weed'. This means the slang was borrowed directly from English meaning rather than evolving naturally from Vietnamese botany.
Examples in context
- Chúng tôi giúp họ nhổ cỏ dại trong vườn.We helped them weed the garden.This sentence shows how to use cỏ dại in the context of helping in a garden.Tatoeba #8957171 by dotheduyet1999, translation #3914891 by CH
- Khi thảo luận về các vấn đề liên quan đến cần sa, chúng ta cần tìm hiểu rõ hơn về hệ quả và ảnh hưởng của nó.When discussing matters relating to marijuana, we need to understand the consequences and its impacts better.
- Cỏ dại đang mọc rất nhanh.The weeds are growing very fast.
- Tôi không muốn cỏ dại trong vườn.I don't want weeds in my garden.
Example conversation
Tuấn and Hương are working in the garden together.
- TuấnHương ơi, có nhiều cỏ dại quá.Hương, there are too many weeds.
- HươngĐể em giúp anh nhổ chúng.Let me help you pull them out.
- TuấnCảm ơn em, vườn sẽ sạch hơn.Thank you, the garden will be cleaner.
- HươngAnh muốn trồng thêm hoa nữa không?Do you want to plant more flowers?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “weed” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (cỏ, dại) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cỏ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
