Significado
Describing extreme poverty.
Contexto cultural
The 'áo tơi' is a symbol of the hard-working farmer. It represents a time when people were self-sufficient, making their own clothes from nature. In provinces like Nghệ An, the 'áo tơi' was essential due to the 'Lào' wind and heavy rains. It's a point of regional pride and hardship. The confusion between 'tơi' (coat) and 'mồng tơi' (spinach) shows how language evolves through 'folk etymology' where people replace old words with familiar ones. Young people often use 'nghèo như tơi' ironically on social media to describe their state after shopping or traveling.
Use it for humor
If you want to sound like a local, use this when your friends ask you to lend them money. It's a polite and funny way to say 'I'm broke'.
Don't be too literal
Don't use this to describe a broken object. It only applies to people or their financial situation.
Significado
Describing extreme poverty.
Use it for humor
If you want to sound like a local, use this when your friends ask you to lend them money. It's a polite and funny way to say 'I'm broke'.
Don't be too literal
Don't use this to describe a broken object. It only applies to people or their financial situation.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Sau khi tiêu hết tiền tiết kiệm, anh ấy nghèo như ___.
The full idiom is 'nghèo như tơi'.
Which situation is most appropriate for using 'nghèo như tơi'?
When should you use this phrase?
It is an informal idiom best suited for casual conversation.
Match the Vietnamese phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
Nghèo như tơi is the idiomatic equivalent of 'dirt poor'.
🎉 Puntuación: /3
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
3 ejerciciosSau khi tiêu hết tiền tiết kiệm, anh ấy nghèo như ___.
The full idiom is 'nghèo như tơi'.
When should you use this phrase?
It is an informal idiom best suited for casual conversation.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
Nghèo như tơi is the idiomatic equivalent of 'dirt poor'.
🎉 Puntuación: /3
Preguntas frecuentes
3 preguntasBoth are used, but 'mồng tơi' is more common in the North, while 'mùng tơi' is often heard in the South. Both refer to the same idiom.
No, this describes actual lack of money or a 'broke' state, not stinginess. For stingy, use 'keo kiệt'.
It can be if used to mock someone's real poverty. Use it mostly for yourself or in a storytelling context.
Frases relacionadas
Nghèo rớt mồng tơi
synonymThe most common modern variation of the phrase.
Trắng tay
similarEmpty-handed.
Nghèo xơ xác
similarFrayed/withered poor.
Giàu nứt đố đổ tường
contrastFilthy rich (so rich the walls crack).
