ăn sống
[ʔan˧˧ səwŋ͡m˧˦]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(verb) to eat raw or undercooked food
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Nhiều người thích ăn sống cá hồi.Many people like to eat salmon raw.
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 threaten or attack someone fiercely; to be extremely angry with someone (often in the idiom ăn sống nuốt tươi)
Register: informal
Examples
Nhìn mặt bà ấy như muốn ăn sống tôi đến nơi rồi.Looking at her face, it's like she's about to eat me alive.
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common questions
What does “ăn sống” mean?
(verb) to eat raw or undercooked food
Is “ăn sống” formal or informal?
ăn sống is generally informal.