المعنى
Describing something very dry.
خلفية ثقافية
The red-tiled roof is a symbol of the 'Hội An' or 'Old Quarter' aesthetic. While the tiles are dry, they protect the 'moist' and cool interior of the house from the tropical sun. Vietnamese food is known for its balance of 'Yin' (cool/moist) and 'Yang' (warm/dry). A dish that is 'khô như ngói' is considered a failure because it lacks the 'Yin' balance of dipping sauces or fresh herbs. In farming communities, 'khô như ngói' is a serious phrase used during droughts. It signals a threat to the rice crop, which requires constant water. Authors often use this idiom to describe the harshness of life in the central provinces (Miền Trung), where the climate is the driest in the country.
Use it for food complaints
This is the most natural way to tell a friend their cooking was a bit too dry without being overly technical.
Not for people's health
Don't use it to describe a sick person's dry cough or dry eyes; it sounds too objectifying.
المعنى
Describing something very dry.
Use it for food complaints
This is the most natural way to tell a friend their cooking was a bit too dry without being overly technical.
Not for people's health
Don't use it to describe a sick person's dry cough or dry eyes; it sounds too objectifying.
The 'Nhạt' connection
In Vietnamese, 'khô' (dry) and 'nhạt' (bland) are often used together to describe a boring person. 'Anh ta vừa khô vừa nhạt'.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Món thịt bò này nướng quá lửa nên khô như ____.
The standard idiom is 'khô như ngói'.
Which situation is the MOST appropriate for using 'khô như ngói'?
Bạn có thể dùng 'khô như ngói' khi nào?
Old bread becomes extremely dry and brittle, fitting the idiom perfectly.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
A: Cậu thấy anh chàng mới quen thế nào? B: Đẹp trai, nhưng nói chuyện ____, tớ không thích lắm.
In this context, 'khô như ngói' describes a boring or unromantic personality.
Match the sentence to the context.
1. Đất nứt nẻ, khô như ngói. | 2. Văn phong khô như ngói. | 3. Cá rán khô như ngói.
The idiom can be used for nature, writing, and food.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينMón thịt bò này nướng quá lửa nên khô như ____.
The standard idiom is 'khô như ngói'.
Bạn có thể dùng 'khô như ngói' khi nào?
Old bread becomes extremely dry and brittle, fitting the idiom perfectly.
A: Cậu thấy anh chàng mới quen thế nào? B: Đẹp trai, nhưng nói chuyện ____, tớ không thích lắm.
In this context, 'khô như ngói' describes a boring or unromantic personality.
1. Đất nứt nẻ, khô như ngói. | 2. Văn phong khô như ngói. | 3. Cá rán khô như ngói.
The idiom can be used for nature, writing, and food.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةNo. For dry wine, Vietnamese uses the loan word 'chát' or simply 'không ngọt'. 'Khô như ngói' would imply the wine has no liquid!
Yes, it is quite blunt. Use it with friends or when writing a review, but maybe not directly to someone's face unless you are very close.
Yes, in this context it specifically refers to the terracotta tiles used on roofs.
It's better to just say 'Khô như ngói'. The 'như ngói' part already means 'very/extremely'.
Not really. Dryness in this sense is almost always seen as a negative quality in Vietnamese culture.
No. Vietnamese doesn't really have a direct equivalent for 'dry wit'. A dry person in Vietnamese is just boring.
You could say 'mọng nước' (juicy) for food or 'ướt át' (wet/sentimental) for personality.
Yes, it's very common to describe a parched landscape.
Yes, it is understood and used throughout the country.
You can, but it sounds a bit poetic or dramatic. 'Khát nước' is more common.
عبارات ذات صلة
Khô không khốc
synonymExtremely dry and hard.
Khô khan
similarDry, lacking emotion or interest.
Gầy như que củi
similarThin as a stick.
Ướt như chuột lột
contrastWet as a soaked rat.
Nhạt như nước ốc
similarBland as snail water.
