Significado
The latecomer gets the worst.
Contexto cultural
The water buffalo is the national animal of Vietnam, symbolizing the soul of the countryside. This proverb reflects the agrarian roots of Vietnamese wisdom. In modern Vietnamese business culture, 'nhanh' (fast) is often prioritized. Decisions are made quickly to capture emerging markets. Students are often encouraged to apply for scholarships or register for classes early using this proverb. In the context of 'văn hóa vỉa hè' (sidewalk culture), the best spots for street food are taken early.
Use it for humor
You can use this to tease friends who are late for dinner. It makes you sound very native and funny.
Don't use for elders
While neutral, calling an elder a 'slow buffalo' might be seen as slightly disrespectful unless you have a very close relationship.
Significado
The latecomer gets the worst.
Use it for humor
You can use this to tease friends who are late for dinner. It makes you sound very native and funny.
Don't use for elders
While neutral, calling an elder a 'slow buffalo' might be seen as slightly disrespectful unless you have a very close relationship.
The 'Clear Water' Joke
If you are late, try saying 'Trâu chậm uống nước trong' (Slow buffalo drinks clear water) to make people laugh and excuse your lateness.
Teste-se
Choose the correct word to complete the proverb.
Trâu chậm uống nước ___.
'Đục' means muddy/cloudy, which is the negative result for the slow buffalo.
Which situation best fits the proverb 'Trâu chậm uống nước đục'?
A) You wait for a sale and all the good clothes are gone. B) You study hard and get an A. C) You help an old lady cross the street.
The proverb is about missing out on quality due to being slow.
Fill in the missing animal in this proverb.
___ chậm uống nước đục.
The buffalo (trâu) is the traditional animal used in this Vietnamese proverb.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Sao cậu không mua vé sớm? B: Tớ quên mất, giờ hết chỗ đẹp rồi. A: Đúng là ___.
The context is about missing out on good seats because of a delay.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosTrâu chậm uống nước ___.
'Đục' means muddy/cloudy, which is the negative result for the slow buffalo.
A) You wait for a sale and all the good clothes are gone. B) You study hard and get an A. C) You help an old lady cross the street.
The proverb is about missing out on quality due to being slow.
___ chậm uống nước đục.
The buffalo (trâu) is the traditional animal used in this Vietnamese proverb.
A: Sao cậu không mua vé sớm? B: Tớ quên mất, giờ hết chỗ đẹp rồi. A: Đúng là ___.
The context is about missing out on good seats because of a delay.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
6 perguntasYes, absolutely! It's very common on social media when talking about limited edition sneakers or concert tickets.
Yes, it is considered a classic piece of wisdom and is appropriate for formal writing to illustrate a point about competition.
The closest opposite is 'Chậm mà chắc' (Slow but sure), which values quality over speed.
In this context, yes. It refers to water that has been stirred up with mud and silt.
Vietnam was historically a wet-rice farming culture where buffaloes were the primary work animals, not horses.
In this proverb, no. It's a metaphor. However, calling someone a 'trâu' in other contexts can mean they are stubborn or very strong.
Frases relacionadas
Chậm mà chắc
contrastSlow but sure.
Trâu chậm ăn cỏ héo
synonymThe slow buffalo eats withered grass.
Nhanh như chớp
similarAs fast as lightning.
Cầm đèn chạy trước ô tô
contrastHolding a lamp and running in front of a car.
