hoa nhài cắm bãi cứt trâu
noun
Hanoi [hwaː˧˧ ɲaːj˨˩ kam˧˦ ʔɓaːj˦ˀ˥ kɨt̚˧˦ t͡ɕəw˧˧]Huế [hwaː˧˧ ɲaːj˦˩ kam˦˧˥ ʔɓaːj˧˨ kɨk̚˦˧˥ ʈəw˧˧]Saigon [waː˧˧ ɲaːj˨˩ kam˦˥ ʔɓaːj˨˩˦ kɨk̚˦˥ ʈəw˧˧] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
Classifier: bông — e.g. một bông hoa nhài cắm bãi cứt trâu
Meanings of hoa nhài cắm bãi cứt trâu in English
Noun
- literal an Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambac) stuck in a pile of water buffalo shit
- figurative a beautiful woman married to a man who's so terribly below her status or standard to be considered appropriate
Etymology
Perhaps from folklore. Compare Chinese 一朵鮮花插在牛糞上 /一朵鲜花插在牛粪上 (yī duǒ xiānhuā chā zài niúfèn shàng, literally “a flower stuck into a pile of cow dung”).
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce hoa nhài cắm bãi cứt trâu?
IPA: Hanoi [hwaː˧˧ ɲaːj˨˩ kam˧˦ ʔɓaːj˦ˀ˥ kɨt̚˧˦ t͡ɕəw˧˧]; Saigon [waː˧˧ ɲaːj˨˩ kam˦˥ ʔɓaːj˨˩˦ kɨk̚˦˥ ʈəw˧˧]. Tones: hoa — level tone (ngang), nhài — falling tone (huyền), cắm — rising tone (sắc), bãi — creaky rising tone (ngã), cứt — rising tone (sắc), trâu — level tone (ngang).
What classifier is used with hoa nhài cắm bãi cứt trâu?
Common classifiers: bông — for example "một bông hoa nhài cắm bãi cứt trâu" (one hoa nhài cắm bãi cứt trâu).