A2 Idiom 非正式

Vắt cổ chày ra nước

Squeeze water from a pestle neck

意思

Describing someone who is extremely stingy

🌍

文化背景

In Vietnam, if you are described with this idiom, it is a serious blow to your reputation. Social 'face' is built on generosity. The idiom is very common in Northern folk tales (Truyện cười dân gian) where the 'rich landlord' is always the butt of the joke. While bargaining is common, being too aggressive in a way that hurts the seller's basic livelihood can earn you this label. The idiom is still used by younger generations in the US or Australia to joke about their parents' extreme frugality.

⚠️

It's an insult!

Don't use this to describe your host or someone you want to stay on good terms with.

🎯

Use with 'Lão'

Adding 'Lão' (Old man) before the subject makes it sound like a classic folk tale insult: 'Lão ấy vắt cổ chày ra nước.'

意思

Describing someone who is extremely stingy

⚠️

It's an insult!

Don't use this to describe your host or someone you want to stay on good terms with.

🎯

Use with 'Lão'

Adding 'Lão' (Old man) before the subject makes it sound like a classic folk tale insult: 'Lão ấy vắt cổ chày ra nước.'

自我测试

Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.

Anh ta giàu nhưng tính tình ____ cổ chày ____ nước.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: vắt / ra

The full idiom is 'Vắt cổ chày ra nước.'

Which situation best fits the idiom 'Vắt cổ chày ra nước'?

A person who...

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: Refuses to tip even a small amount at a luxury restaurant.

The idiom describes extreme stinginess, not hard work or simple saving.

Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.

Lan: 'Sao cậu không mượn tiền Nam?' - Hoa: 'Thôi đi, Nam là kẻ ________.'

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: vắt cổ chày ra nước

Nam is stingy, so you wouldn't borrow money from him.

🎉 得分: /3

视觉学习工具

练习题库

3 练习
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom. Fill Blank A2

Anh ta giàu nhưng tính tình ____ cổ chày ____ nước.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: vắt / ra

The full idiom is 'Vắt cổ chày ra nước.'

Which situation best fits the idiom 'Vắt cổ chày ra nước'? Choose A2

A person who...

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: Refuses to tip even a small amount at a luxury restaurant.

The idiom describes extreme stinginess, not hard work or simple saving.

Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase. dialogue_completion B1

Lan: 'Sao cậu không mượn tiền Nam?' - Hoa: 'Thôi đi, Nam là kẻ ________.'

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: vắt cổ chày ra nước

Nam is stingy, so you wouldn't borrow money from him.

🎉 得分: /3

常见问题

2 个问题

Yes, it's very common in daily life and on social media to complain about stinginess.

Yes, you can say 'Tôi vắt cổ chày ra nước lắm' to jokingly explain why you won't buy something expensive.

相关表达

🔄

Rán sành ra mỡ

synonym

To fry terracotta to get fat.

🔗

Keo kiệt

similar

Stingy.

🔗

Hào phóng

contrast

Generous.

有帮助吗?
还没有评论。成为第一个分享想法的人!