mò kim đáy biển
verb
Hanoi [mɔ˨˩ kim˧˧ ʔɗaj˧˦ ʔɓiən˧˩]Huế [mɔ˦˩ kim˧˧ ʔɗaj˨˩˦ ʔɓiəŋ˧˨]Saigon [mɔ˨˩ kim˧˧ ʔɗa(ː)j˦˥ ʔɓiəŋ˨˩˦] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
Also spelled mò kim đáy bể — same word, same meaning.
Meanings of mò kim đáy biển in English
Verb
- idiomatic to look for a needle in a haystack; literally "to blindly look for a needle at the bottom of the ocean"
Etymology
Compare Chinese 海底摸針 /海底摸针 (hải để mạc châm).
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce mò kim đáy biển?
IPA: Hanoi [mɔ˨˩ kim˧˧ ʔɗaj˧˦ ʔɓiən˧˩]; Saigon [mɔ˨˩ kim˧˧ ʔɗa(ː)j˦˥ ʔɓiəŋ˨˩˦]. Tones: mò — falling tone (huyền), kim — level tone (ngang), đáy — rising tone (sắc), biển — dipping tone (hỏi).