ăn xổi
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
ăn xổi means to seek immediate; short-term gain without long-term planning; to be opportunistic or superficial.
Meanings of ăn xổi in English
Verb
- to eat food (usually vegetables) that has been pickled or prepared for immediate consumption
- derogatory, figurative, idiomatic to seek immediate, short-term gain without long-term planning; to be opportunistic or superficial
Idioms and sayings with ăn xổi
- ăn xổi ở thì — short-sighted, lacking foresight; temporary, makeshift
Historical script (chữ Nôm / Hán)
Before the Latin alphabet (chữ Quốc ngữ) became standard, ăn xổi could be written as 咹磊, 咹𱓘, 咹𤐝. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Etymology
Compound of ăn (“to eat”) + xổi (“temporary, short-term”). Originally referring to the practice of eating vegetables that have been pickled for only a short time.
Frequently asked questions
What does ăn xổi mean in English?
ăn xổi (verb) means "to seek immediate; short-term gain without long-term planning; to be opportunistic or superficial".
How do you pronounce ăn xổi?
IPA: Hanoi [ʔan˧˧ soj˧˩]; Saigon [ʔaŋ˧˧ soj˨˩˦]. Tones: ăn — level tone (ngang), xổi — dipping tone (hỏi).