Tiếng Việt · Proverb Attested

cò chẳng tha ngao

🎙 Say it

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

The snipe won't release the clam — neither side yielding, both in the fisherman's basket soon.

Literally: the snipe spares not the clam

Sources & notes

Discovered via Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897; public domain, via vi.wikisource); retrieved 2026-08-01. Source: source ↗ Attested in Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897). Definition is an original editorial synthesis, not copied from the source.

Common questions

What does “cò chẳng tha ngao” mean?

The snipe won't release the clam — neither side yielding, both in the fisherman's basket soon. Literally: the snipe spares not the clam

Is “cò chẳng tha ngao” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

👁 Views 0 today 0 past 7 days 0 this month 0 all time