xấu hay làm tốt, dốt hay nói chữ
The plain love adornment, the ignorant love book-talk — each lack shops loudest for its own cover.
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All languages English Tiếng Việt
xấu lá xấu nem, xấu em xấu chị
A bad leaf shames the roll; a bad sister shames the elder — flaws are contagious along every bundle and bloodline.
xấu máu đòi ăn của độc
Weak blood craving the rich dish — appetite pointed exactly where it does the most harm.
xấu như ma
Ugly as a ghost — looks that startle.
xấu xa cũng thế chồng ta, dù cho tốt đẹp cũng ra chồng người
Homely as he is, he's my husband — the handsomest man is still somebody else's — fidelity's tart arithmetic.
xấu đều hơn tốt lỏi
Evenly plain beats patchily fine — better all-around modest than brilliant in spots.
xẩy đàn tan nghé
The flock scattered, the calf lost — one breakup and every dependent is adrift.
xập xám chướng
The thirteen banes — the mahjong-hand name repurposed for a full house of vices.
xỉu ngang
Fainting sideways — collapsing theatrically from shock, cuteness, or a price tag; often doubled as "xỉu ngang xỉu dọc" (fainting in every direction).
xỉu up xỉu down
Fainting up AND down — the Vietnamese-English mashup for being repeatedly, comprehensively overwhelmed.
xịn phết
Pretty darn premium — Northern "phết" tempers "xịn" into impressed understatement: better than expected, worth saying so.
xịn sò
Fancy-schmancy — playful upgrade of "xịn" (premium) for anything impressively swanky, from gadgets to wedding setups.
xịt keo
Frozen in place — so stunned you’re hairspray-set where you stand.
xỏ lá ba que
synonym of ba que xỏ lá
x factor
A unique, intangible quality that sets someone or something apart
x marks the spot
Indicates the exact location of something
X's and O's
Basic elements or fundamentals of something
xanny
Xanax.
xantippe
The name of Socrates's wife: now used to signify a shrew or scolding wife.
XJdal Tenure
The same as "allodial tenure," the opposite of "feudal tenure/' which was the holding of a tenement under a feudal lord.
Xa chùa vắng tiếng, gần chùa inh tai
Those far from the source of information are uninformed, while those close are overwhelmed
Xa chùa vắng tiếng, gần chùa điếc tai
Those far from the issue are unaware, while those close are desensitized
Xa chùa vắng trống
Far from supervision or control
Xa chùa vắng trống, gần chùa inh tai
Those far from power are often ignored, while those close are often bothered
Xa chạy cao bay
To have a promising and successful future
Xa mỏi chân, gần mỏi miệng
Distant relationships require more effort to maintain than close ones
Xa người, xa tiếng nhưng lòng không xa
Physically distant but still close at heart
Xa quãng Hối, tối quãng Điềm.
Distance leads to nostalgia and longing
Xa sân hơn gần ngõ
Distant relatives are more helpful than nearby neighbors
xa thơm gần thối
Distant things seem attractive, but nearby ones are unpleasant
xa tiền tử
Far from home when dying
Xa xôi em chớ ngại ngùng
Don't be shy or hesitant when far from home
Xanh chả thủng cá đi đường nào
A useless thing is of no value
Xanh chẳng có lỗ, cá đi đằng nào
Every situation has its own consequences
xanh da bát
completely green or inexperienced
xanh hoa lí
fresh and inexperienced
xanh hồ thủy
feeling calm and serene
Xanh không thủng, cá đi đằng nào
There's no use trying to find a solution to a problem that doesn't exist
xanh lá mạ
fresh and inexperienced
Xanh nhà còn hơn già đồng
Close relationships are more valuable than distant ones
Xanh nhà hơn già đồng
Close relatives are more helpful than distant friends
Xanh nhà, lợn gà người
One's own family is more important than others
Xanh như cái trời
Completely innocent or naive
Xanh như da trời
Completely false or untrue
Xanh như lá, bạc như vôi
Completely genuine and sincere
Xanh như lá, vàng như nghệ
Completely fake or artificial
Xanh như tàu lá
completely green and unripe
Xanh vỏ thì đỏ lòng
Appearance can be deceiving
xanh vỏ đỏ lòng
Beautiful outside but rotten inside
xanh xao hốc hác
Vietnamese phrase; English definition pending editorial review.
Xanh đầu con nhà bác, bạc đầu con nhà chú
Someone else's wealth is more attractive
Xanh đầu là chúa, bạc đầu là tôi
Younger people should respect and obey their elders
Xanh đầu thì bỏ, đỏ đầu thì nuôi
Discard what is unripe and nurture what is mature
Xay lúa thì khỏi ẵm em
No need to take care of something that is already being handled
Xay lúa thì thôi ẵm em
Don't interfere in others' business
Xay lúa thì đừng ẵm em
Don't interfere in others' business
Xay lúa tôi có máu thượng công, cày đồng tôi có máu thấp
One's profession or social status is determined by birth
Xay lúa Đồng Nai, cơm gạo về ngài, tấm cám về tôi
One person does the work, while another gets the benefits
Xay thóc có chàng, việc làng có mõ
Everyone contributes their skills to the community
Xay thóc có dàng, việc làng có mõ
Everyone contributes their share
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