ốc chẳng nổi mình ốc
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
The snail can't even carry its own shell — and offers to carry moss for others.
Literally: the snail can't bear its own body
Examples
Ốc chẳng nổi mình ốc còn đòi cõng rêu.Can't carry its own shell, and volunteering for the moss.
Editorial example (VI sweep batch 040, illustrative)
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.
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Common questions
What does “ốc chẳng nổi mình ốc” mean?
The snail can't even carry its own shell — and offers to carry moss for others. Literally: the snail can't bear its own body
Is “ốc chẳng nổi mình ốc” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
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