Signification
Advice that is ignored completely.
Contexte culturel
The idiom reflects the agricultural roots of Vietnam, where ducks are a common sight in rice paddies. Farmers' observations of animal behavior often became linguistic metaphors. Using this phrase toward a child emphasizes the importance of 'hiếu thảo' (filial piety) and listening to parents. It's a tool for moral education. Vietnamese people often use indirect metaphors (idioms) to criticize someone's behavior to avoid direct confrontation, though this specific idiom is quite blunt. In the South, people might use 'Nước đổ lá môn' more frequently due to the abundance of elephant ear plants in the Mekong Delta.
Use with 'Như'
Always remember to add 'như' (like) before the phrase to make it a smooth comparison: 'Nói như nước đổ đầu vịt'.
Don't use with Elders
Even if your grandmother is being stubborn, calling her a 'duck's head' is a major cultural faux pas.
Signification
Advice that is ignored completely.
Use with 'Như'
Always remember to add 'như' (like) before the phrase to make it a smooth comparison: 'Nói như nước đổ đầu vịt'.
Don't use with Elders
Even if your grandmother is being stubborn, calling her a 'duck's head' is a major cultural faux pas.
Combine with 'Lì'
To sound more native, you can say 'Lì như nước đổ đầu vịt' to emphasize the stubbornness.
The Taro Leaf Alternative
If you want to sound more poetic or regional, try 'Nước đổ lá khoai'. It's considered slightly more 'literary'.
Teste-toi
Complete the idiom with the correct animal.
Tôi đã khuyên nó rất nhiều, nhưng đúng là nước đổ đầu ______.
The idiom is 'Nước đổ đầu vịt'.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'Nước đổ đầu vịt'?
Chọn tình huống phù hợp:
The idiom describes ignored advice.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
Mẹ: 'Sao con vẫn chưa làm bài tập?' - Con: '(Im lặng chơi game)' - Mẹ: 'Thật là ______!'
'Nước đổ đầu vịt' fits the context of a child ignoring a parent.
Match the idiom to its meaning.
Nước đổ đầu vịt có nghĩa là gì?
It means stubborn and not listening.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Duck vs. Sponge (The Metaphor)
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesTôi đã khuyên nó rất nhiều, nhưng đúng là nước đổ đầu ______.
The idiom is 'Nước đổ đầu vịt'.
Chọn tình huống phù hợp:
The idiom describes ignored advice.
Mẹ: 'Sao con vẫn chưa làm bài tập?' - Con: '(Im lặng chơi game)' - Mẹ: 'Thật là ______!'
'Nước đổ đầu vịt' fits the context of a child ignoring a parent.
Nước đổ đầu vịt có nghĩa là gì?
It means stubborn and not listening.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt's a criticism, but not a 'curse word'. It's more about expressing frustration than attacking someone's character permanently.
Yes! You can say 'Tôi học mãi mà cứ như nước đổ đầu vịt' if you feel you aren't retaining information.
'Nước đổ đầu vịt' is for ignoring advice; 'Đàn gảy tai trâu' is for someone who doesn't have the capacity to understand something sophisticated.
It is used and understood perfectly in both regions.
No, it is too informal and could be seen as unprofessional or rude.
In this context, it means 'to pour' or 'to spill'.
Ducks are much more common in the daily life of Vietnamese farmers.
Not really. It's almost always used to describe a negative communication failure.
No, that's not a standard idiom and people will be confused.
Vietnamese doesn't have a direct positive equivalent; you'd just say 'Anh ấy rất bình thản' (He is very calm).
Expressions liées
Nước đổ lá khoai
synonymWater on a taro leaf.
Đàn gảy tai trâu
similarPlaying the lute to a buffalo.
Lì như vịt
builds onStubborn as a duck.
Nói như đấm vào tai
contrastSpeaking like punching someone in the ear.
Nước chảy đá mòn
contrastWater flows, rocks erode.
