chở củi về rừng
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To do something pointlessly redundant — bringing something to a place that already has plenty of it.
Literally: To haul firewood back to the forest.
How to use it
✓ Use it when
Mocking redundant effort or unnecessary gifts.
Register: neutralConnotation: wryEra: Traditional – present
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Mang cà phê sang Buôn Ma Thuột bán khác gì chở củi về rừng.Selling coffee in Buôn Ma Thuột is like hauling firewood back to the forest.
Editorial example (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)
Equivalents & related
Common questions
What does “chở củi về rừng” mean?
To do something pointlessly redundant — bringing something to a place that already has plenty of it. Literally: To haul firewood back to the forest.
Is “chở củi về rừng” formal or informal?
chở củi về rừng is generally neutral; connotation: wry.
What is the closest equivalent?
“carry coals to Newcastle” (English) — direct equivalent.