cầy

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The Vietnamese word "cầy" has several meanings and uses, so let's break it down:

Basic Meaning:

1. Civets: In a general sense, "cầy" refers to civets, which are small, nocturnal mammals known for their unique appearance and are often found in tropical regions. They belong to the family Viverridae.

Informal Uses:

1. Dog Meat: In colloquial language, "cầy" can also refer to dog meat. It is used to describe dishes made from dog meat, which is a traditional delicacy in some regions of Vietnam.

Culinary Context:

• Thịt cầy: This term specifically means dog meat. It is often prepared in various ways, such as grilled or stewed, and is sometimes served with special herbs and spices.
• Chow: In some contexts, "cầy" can refer to chow as food, especially in informal speech.

Verb Usage:

• Run như cầy: This phrase translates to "to shiver" or "to tremble", using "cầy" as a verb form. It conveys the idea of shaking or trembling, often due to cold or fear.

Advanced Usage:

• The word "cầy" can be part of various expressions or idiomatic phrases in Vietnamese. For example, you might hear it in phrases related to food culture or traditional dishes, which can showcase regional differences in cuisine.

Word Variants:

• Cầy hương: This term refers to the Malay civet, a specific species of civet known for its role in the coffee-making process (civet coffee).
• Cầy tơ: This means young dog, often used to refer to more tender meat in culinary contexts.

Synonyms:

• For civets, there may not be direct synonyms, but you could use "mèo" (cat) in a broader context of small mammals.
• For dog meat, you might encounter other regional terms or phrases depending on local dialects, but "cầy" is the most common informal term.

Example Sentences:

1. Civets:

   • "Cầy là một loài động vật có vú nhỏ sống về đêm." (Civets are a small nocturnal mammal.)

2. Dog Meat:

   • "Ở một số vùng, thịt cầy được coi là món đặc sản." (In some regions, dog meat is considered a specialty dish.)

3. Shivering:

   • "Khi trời lạnh, tôi thường chạy như cầy." (When it’s cold, I often shiver.)

Conclusion:

The word "cầy" can have different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. It's important to understand these variations to use the word correctly in conversations.

Academic

noun

1. Civet, viverrine
2. khẩu ngữ) Chow (as food)
   • thịt cầy
     chow-meat, dog-meat
   • run như cầy sấy
     to shiver