la bàn
noun Sino-Vietnamese
Hanoi [laː˧˧ ʔɓaːn˨˩]Huế [laː˧˧ ʔɓaːŋ˦˩]Saigon [laː˧˧ ʔɓaːŋ˨˩] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
la bàn means a compass.
Meanings of la bàn in English
Noun
- a compass (instrument to determine cardinal directions) ≈ địa bàn
Example sentences with la bàn
- La bàn chỉ hướng bắc. Compasses point north.
Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 羅盤 (“luopan”).
Frequently asked questions
What does la bàn mean in English?
la bàn (noun) means "a compass".
How do you pronounce la bàn?
IPA: Hanoi [laː˧˧ ʔɓaːn˨˩]; Saigon [laː˧˧ ʔɓaːŋ˨˩]. Tones: la — level tone (ngang), bàn — falling tone (huyền).
Is la bàn a Sino-Vietnamese word?
Yes. la bàn is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 羅盤.
What classifier is used with la bàn?
Common classifiers: cái, chiếc — for example "một cái la bàn" (one a compass).