bí đao
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
bí đao means winter melon.
Meanings of bí đao in English
Noun
- winter melon (Benincasa hispida)
Etymology
It is not clear what the second element is. In Nhật dụng thường đàm (日用常談, 1827) and the Dictionarium Anamitico-Latinum (1838), bí đao was spelled as 秘刀 and 費刀 respectively. In both cases, the second element is spelled with 刀 (MC taw, “blade”) (SV: đao), which makes little sense if taken literally ("knife gourd" or "sword gourd"), so it is most likely a phonogram used simply for phonetic value (just like the adjacent phonograms 秘 (MC pijH) and 費 (MC phj+jH) used to write bí (“gourd”)).
Frequently asked questions
What does bí đao mean in English?
bí đao (noun) means "winter melon".
How do you pronounce bí đao?
IPA: Hanoi [ʔɓi˧˦ ʔɗaːw˧˧]; Saigon [ʔɓɪj˦˥ ʔɗaːw˧˧]. Tones: bí — rising tone (sắc), đao — level tone (ngang).
What classifier is used with bí đao?
Common classifiers: cây, trái, quả — for example "một cây bí đao" (one winter melon).