chèo
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
chèo means oar or paddle.
Meanings of chèo in English
Verb
- to oar, to paddle
Noun
- chèo (traditional Vietnamese opera)
Words with chèo
Example sentences with chèo
- Chúng tôi chèo lên cao để có được tầm nhìn đẹp hơn. We climbed higher so that we might get a better view.
Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).
Historical script (chữ Nôm / Hán)
Before the Latin alphabet (chữ Quốc ngữ) became standard, chèo could be written as 𣛨, 𢴿, 掉. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Etymology
From Proto-Vietic *tʃ-r-ɛːw, an *-r- (instrumental derivative) infixed form of Proto-Vietic *tʃɛːw, whence Modern Vietnamese xeo (“to lift up with a crowbar; to propel (a boat) with a long pole”). Related to Vietnamese neo (“anchor”), Khmer ចែវ (caew, “to row; paddle”), ច្រវា (crɑɑvaa, “oar; paddle”), Lao ແຊວ (sǣu, “to row”). Compare Chinese 櫂 /棹 (trạo).
Frequently asked questions
What does chèo mean in English?
chèo (noun) means "oar or paddle".
How do you pronounce chèo?
IPA: Hanoi [t͡ɕɛw˨˩]; Saigon [cɛw˨˩]. Tones: chèo — falling tone (huyền).
What classifier is used with chèo?
Common classifiers: cây, cái — for example "một cây chèo" (one oar or paddle).