kèn
Hanoi [kɛn˨˩]Huế [kɛŋ˦˩]Saigon [kɛŋ˨˩] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
kèn means a wind instrument.
Classifier: cây — e.g. một cây kèn (one wind instrument)
Meanings of kèn in English
Noun
- a traditional double reed shawm of Vietnam
- a wind instrument
Words with kèn
Example sentences with kèn
- Tôi luyện kèn harmonica trong khi chờ đèn đỏ. I practice harmonica while waiting at traffic lights.
- Tôi biết bạn có thể chơi kèn clarinet. Bạn cũng có thể chơi được kèn saxophone chứ? I know you can play the clarinet. Can you play the saxophone, too?
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, kèn could be written as 𥱲, 𧤥. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Etymology
Borrowed from Tai; compare Thai แคน (kɛɛn) and Lao ແຄນ (khǣn). Compare also khèn.
Frequently asked questions
What does kèn mean in English?
kèn (noun) means "a wind instrument".
How do you pronounce kèn?
IPA: Hanoi [kɛn˨˩]; Saigon [kɛŋ˨˩]. Tones: kèn — falling tone (huyền).
What classifier is used with kèn?
Common classifiers: cây — for example "một cây kèn" (one a wind instrument).