cuốn
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
cuốn means (classifier for books); to roll.
Meanings of cuốn in English
Classifier
- indicates books ≈ quyển
- cuốn/quyển vởa notebook
Verb
- to roll
- to captivate, to enchant, to enamor
Words with cuốn
Example sentences with cuốn
- Tựa đề của cuốn sách là gì? What's the title of that book?
- Đó là một cuốn sách thú vị. That was an exciting book!
- Cuốn sách này nói về cái gì? What is this book about?
- Tôi sẽ cho bạn cuốn sách này. I will give you this book.
- Cậu ta đặt cuốn sách lên giá. He put the book on the shelf.
- Tom lấy cuốn sách ở trên giá. Tom took a book from the shelf.
- Bạn đã mua cuốn sách nào vậy? Which book did you buy?
- Đây là một cuốn sách rất hay. This is a very good book.
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, cuốn could be written as 卷, 捲, 𫡌. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Usage note: cuốn
cuốn has two lives: as a classifier and as a verb.
Classifier for books, same as quyển and especially common in the South: một cuốn sách hay — a good book; cuốn tiểu thuyết — the novel.
Verb "to roll, to wrap": cuốn bánh tráng — roll rice paper. That is why fresh spring rolls are gỏi cuốn (South) and why many dishes on menus end in cuốn: phở cuốn, bò cuốn lá lốt.
From "roll" comes "to sweep away, to carry along": Nước lũ cuốn trôi cây cầu. — The flood swept the bridge away. And figuratively "captivating": Bộ phim này cuốn quá! — This film is so gripping!
Tip: at a restaurant, cuốn on the menu almost always means you will be rolling or eating something wrapped, often with herbs, by hand.
Etymology
From Old Chinese 卷 (OC *[k](r)o[n]ʔ) (B-S) (SV: quyển).
Frequently asked questions
What does cuốn mean in English?
cuốn (classifier) means "(classifier for books); to roll".
How do you pronounce cuốn?
IPA: Hanoi [kuən˧˦]; Saigon [kuəŋ˦˥]. Tones: cuốn — rising tone (sắc).