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A person who is very poor or destitute, often implying they are so poor that they can't even afford to mend their clothes.
Anh ấy là một chó cần áo rách, chỉ có một cái áo rách và một đôi giày cũ.
He's a poor beggar, only having a torn shirt and a pair of old shoes.
Chó cần áo rách không có nhà ở, phải ngủ dưới cầu.
The destitute man has no home and has to sleep under the bridge.
This phrase is often used to describe someone who is extremely poor, sometimes with a tone of pity or contempt.
This phrase reflects a cultural attitude toward poverty in Vietnam, where extreme poverty is sometimes compared to the condition of stray dogs.
Avoid using this phrase in formal or polite contexts, as it can be seen as insensitive.
The phrase combines 'chó' (dog) and 'cần' (to beg), with 'áo rách' (torn shirt), creating a vivid image of extreme poverty.
This phrase is informal and can be considered somewhat derogatory. It's more common in spoken Vietnamese than in formal writing.