Significado
Insulting someone's intelligence.
Contexto cultural
The cow is a ubiquitous symbol in the Vietnamese countryside. Unlike the buffalo, which is the 'hero' of the field, cows are often left to graze and are seen as less 'trainable,' leading to the idiom. Vietnam's history with Confucianism means that 'dốt' (ignorance) is seen as a moral failing or a lack of effort, making this insult particularly stinging. On Vietnamese social media (Facebook, TikTok), 'bò' is sometimes used as a shorthand to call someone a 'bot' or a 'brainless follower' of a certain ideology. Vietnamese uses different animals for different types of 'stupidity.' 'Ngu như lợn' (pig) often implies a lack of common sense combined with laziness.
High Offense Potential
This phrase can end friendships if used with the wrong person. Always gauge the 'vibe' before using animal insults.
The 'Self-Deprecation' Shield
Using it on yourself ('Tôi dốt như bò') is a safe way to show humility or admit a mistake without offending others.
Significado
Insulting someone's intelligence.
High Offense Potential
This phrase can end friendships if used with the wrong person. Always gauge the 'vibe' before using animal insults.
The 'Self-Deprecation' Shield
Using it on yourself ('Tôi dốt như bò') is a safe way to show humility or admit a mistake without offending others.
Teste-se
Complete the idiom with the correct animal.
Nó học mãi không thuộc bài, đúng là dốt như ___.
The standard idiom for being stupid/ignorant is 'dốt như bò'.
In which situation is it appropriate to use 'Dốt như bò'?
Which of these is a safe context?
This is a very informal and potentially offensive idiom, only suitable for close friends.
Fill in the missing line.
A: 'Sao mày lại đổ nước vào ổ điện?' - B: 'Tao tưởng nó bẩn nên rửa thôi.' - A: 'Trời ơi, ___!'
Doing something dangerous and illogical like pouring water into an outlet warrants a strong insult about intelligence.
Match the phrase to the meaning.
Match 'Dốt như bò' with its best description.
The idiom specifically targets cognitive slowness or ignorance.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosNó học mãi không thuộc bài, đúng là dốt như ___.
The standard idiom for being stupid/ignorant is 'dốt như bò'.
Which of these is a safe context?
This is a very informal and potentially offensive idiom, only suitable for close friends.
A: 'Sao mày lại đổ nước vào ổ điện?' - B: 'Tao tưởng nó bẩn nên rửa thôi.' - A: 'Trời ơi, ___!'
Doing something dangerous and illogical like pouring water into an outlet warrants a strong insult about intelligence.
Match 'Dốt như bò' with its best description.
The idiom specifically targets cognitive slowness or ignorance.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
3 perguntasYes, 'Ngu như bò' is generally considered harsher because 'ngu' is a stronger word for stupidity than 'dốt'.
Yes, among very close friends (bạn thân), it is often used as teasing banter.
You can use 'hơi chậm' (a bit slow) or 'không thông minh lắm' (not very smart).
Frases relacionadas
Ngu như bò
synonymStupid as a cow.
Dốt đặc cán mai
similarCompletely ignorant.
Chậm tiêu
similarSlow to digest (information).
Thông minh như sáo
contrastSmart as a blackbird.
