làm dâu trăm họ
verb
Hanoi [laːm˨˩ zəw˧˧ t͡ɕam˧˧ hɔ˧˨ʔ]Huế [laːm˦˩ jəw˧˧ ʈam˧˧ hɔ˨˩ʔ]Saigon [laːm˨˩ jəw˧˧ ʈam˧˧ hɔ˨˩˨] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
Meanings of làm dâu trăm họ in English
Verb
- literal to be the daughter-in-law of a hundred/many/all families
- figurative to be duty-bound to please/appeal to/appease everyone
- Làm marketing là làm dâu trăm họ, em ạ.Working in marketing means having to please everyone, honey.
Etymology
The notion of "a hundred families" is likely from Chinese 百姓 (bá tánh, bách tính). Compare the words for "hundred" in expressions such as bách thú (“all animals”, literally “a hundred beasts”), Bách Việt (“the Yue tribes”, literally “a hundred Yue”), trăm trận trăm thắng/bách chiến bách thắng (“matchless; unrivaled”, literally “a hundred battles, a hundred victories”).
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce làm dâu trăm họ?
IPA: Hanoi [laːm˨˩ zəw˧˧ t͡ɕam˧˧ hɔ˧˨ʔ]; Saigon [laːm˨˩ jəw˧˧ ʈam˧˧ hɔ˨˩˨]. Tones: làm — falling tone (huyền), dâu — level tone (ngang), trăm — level tone (ngang), họ — heavy tone (nặng).