châu chấu đá xe

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Vietnamese

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Etymology

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châu chấu (grasshopper) +‎ đá (to kick) +‎ xe (wheeled vehicle)

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “Are there any connections with Chinese 螳臂當車螳臂当车

Pronunciation

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  • (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [t͡ɕəw˧˧ t͡ɕəw˧˦ ʔɗaː˧˦ sɛ˧˧]
  • (Huế) IPA(key): [t͡ɕəw˧˧ t͡ɕəw˨˩˦ ʔɗaː˨˩˦ sɛ˧˧]
  • (Saigon) IPA(key): [cəw˧˧ cəw˦˥ ʔɗaː˦˥ sɛ˧˧]

Idiom

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châu chấu đá xe

  1. (allegorically) a grasshopper kicking the cart; a weaker side opposing a much stronger side
    Synonym: muỗi đốt i-nốc
    Nực cười châu chấu đá xe.
    Tưởng rằng chấu ngã, ai dè xe nghiêng?
    How ludicrous it is: the grasshopper kicking the cart;
    'Twas thought the grasshopper would fall; who foresaw the cart rolling over instead?