a dua
verb
Hanoi [ʔaː˧˧ zuə˧˧]Huế [ʔaː˧˧ juə˧˧]Saigon [ʔaː˧˧ juə˧˧] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
a dua means to ape; to blindly imitate.
Meanings of a dua in English
Verb
- to ape; to blindly imitate (something bad or wrong from others) ≈ hùa
- Analects, XIII.23; 1972, Vietnamese translation & annotations by Nguyễn Hiến LêConfucius said: “The noble person acts harmoniously yet is not conformist; the petty person is conformist yet does not act harmoniously.”
Historical script (chữ Nôm / Hán)
Before the Latin alphabet (chữ Quốc ngữ) became standard, a dua could be written as 阿諛. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Etymology
Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 阿諛 (“to flatter; to butter up”, SV: a du).
Frequently asked questions
What does a dua mean in English?
a dua (verb) means "to ape; to blindly imitate".
How do you pronounce a dua?
IPA: Hanoi [ʔaː˧˧ zuə˧˧]; Saigon [ʔaː˧˧ juə˧˧]. Tones: a — level tone (ngang), dua — level tone (ngang).