mao

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Fine hair / villus: A very short, soft, and fine hair, especially one that grows on the human body, on plant surfaces, or on certain animal skins. This is the primary and most specific meaning of "mao" in modern Vietnamese.
   • Cilium: In biological contexts, "mao" can refer to microscopic, hair-like structures on cells (cilia).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trên lá non có một lớp mao trắng. (The young leaf has a layer of white fuzz.)
  • Lông mao trong ruột giúp hấp thụ chất dinh dưỡng. (The villi in the intestine help absorb nutrients.)
  • Da em bé mịn và hầu như không có mao. (The baby's skin is smooth and has almost no fine hair.)

Advanced Usage

• "lông mao": This is the most common compound term, explicitly meaning "fine hair" or "vellus hair." The word "mao" is rarely used alone in everyday speech; it is almost always part of this compound.
  • Lông mao trên cánh tay khó nhìn thấy. (The vellus hair on the arm is hard to see.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lông mao (n): fine hair, vellus hair, villus, cilium.
  • Các tế bào hô hấp có lông mao. (Respiratory cells have cilia.)

Synonyms

• Fuzz: A covering of short, soft fibers or hairs.
• Vellus hair: The short, fine, light-colored hair that covers most of the human body.
• Villus: A small, finger-like projection, especially in the intestine.

Notes on Usage

• The word "mao" is a Sino-Vietnamese morpheme (root word) and is almost exclusively used in compound words or specific scientific/technical contexts. In isolation, its meaning is understood but it sounds literary or technical. The common everyday term is the compound "lông mao".
• It should not be confused with the common noun "lông" (hair, fur, feather), which refers to coarser, more visible hair. "Mao" specifically denotes fineness and softness.