Tiếng Việt · Idiom Attested

mài dao dạy vợ

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

Meaning · English

Whetting the knife while lecturing the wife — discipline sharpened where affection should be.

Literally: grind the blade, instruct the wife

Sources & notes

Discovered via Nam ngạn chích cẩm (Phạm Quang Sán, 1918; public domain, via vi.wikisource); retrieved 2026-08-01. Source: source ↗ Attested in Nam ngạn chích cẩm (Phạm Quang Sán, 1918). Definition is an original editorial synthesis, not copied from the source.

Common questions

What does “mài dao dạy vợ” mean?

Whetting the knife while lecturing the wife — discipline sharpened where affection should be. Literally: grind the blade, instruct the wife

Is “mài dao dạy vợ” formal or informal?

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

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