kỳ nam
noun Sino-Vietnamese
Hanoi [ki˨˩ naːm˧˧]Huế [kɪj˦˩ naːm˧˧]Saigon [kɪj˨˩ naːm˧˧] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
kỳ nam means a high-grade form of agarwood.
Also spelled kì nam — same word, same meaning.
Chinese characters: 奇楠
Meanings of kỳ nam in English
Noun
- a high-grade form of agarwood ≈ trầm hương
Historical script (chữ Nôm / Hán)
Before the Latin alphabet (chữ Quốc ngữ) became standard, kỳ nam could be written as 奇楠. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 奇楠, originally from either Sanskrit कालागुरु (kālāguru, “black agarwood”) or alternatively तगर (tagara, “crepe jasmine”).
Frequently asked questions
What does kỳ nam mean in English?
kỳ nam (noun) means "a high-grade form of agarwood".
How do you pronounce kỳ nam?
IPA: Hanoi [ki˨˩ naːm˧˧]; Saigon [kɪj˨˩ naːm˧˧]. Tones: kỳ — falling tone (huyền), nam — level tone (ngang).
Is kỳ nam a Sino-Vietnamese word?
Yes. kỳ nam is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 奇楠.