cờ ba que
noun
Hanoi [kəː˨˩ ʔɓaː˧˧ kwɛ˧˧]Huế [kəː˦˩ ʔɓaː˧˧ kwɛ˧˧]Saigon [kəː˨˩ ʔɓaː˧˧ wɛ˧˧] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
Classifier: lá — e.g. một lá cờ ba que
Meanings of cờ ba que in English
Noun
- derogatory, humorous, slang, chiefly communist Vietnamese the flag of the former Republic of Vietnam
Historical script (chữ Nôm / Hán)
Before the Latin alphabet (chữ Quốc ngữ) became standard, cờ ba que could be written as 旗𠀧桂. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Etymology
From cờ (“flag”) + ba (“three”) + que (“stick”), literally means three-stick flag. "Ba que" is an idiom referring to a trick game played using three sticks and a leaf during French colonial rule, becoming synonymous with deceit and dishonesty.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce cờ ba que?
IPA: Hanoi [kəː˨˩ ʔɓaː˧˧ kwɛ˧˧]; Saigon [kəː˨˩ ʔɓaː˧˧ wɛ˧˧]. Tones: cờ — falling tone (huyền), ba — level tone (ngang), que — level tone (ngang).
What classifier is used with cờ ba que?
Common classifiers: lá — for example "một lá cờ ba que" (one cờ ba que).