ăn bám
[ʔan˧˧ ʔɓaːm˧˦]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(verb) to live off (someone else); to sponge on; to live on
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Vả lại, mẹ thường bảo chúng tôi rằng: “[…] Con cái mà cứ nhong nhóng ăn bám vào bố mẹ thì chỉ sinh ra tính ỷ lại, xấu lắm, rồi ra đời không làm nên trò trống gì đâu.”Besides, my mother used to tell her children, “[…] Children who are a burden to their parents develop parasitic habits and will grow up into ne’er-do-wells.”
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Meaning · English
(verb) to be a freeloader
Common questions
What does “ăn bám” mean?
(verb) to live off (someone else); to sponge on; to live on
Is “ăn bám” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.