mò trăng đáy nước
phrase
Hanoi [mɔ˨˩ t͡ɕaŋ˧˧ ʔɗaj˧˦ nɨək̚˧˦]Huế [mɔ˦˩ ʈaŋ˧˧ ʔɗaj˨˩˦ nɨək̚˦˧˥]Saigon [mɔ˨˩ ʈaŋ˧˧ ʔɗa(ː)j˦˥ nɨək̚˦˥] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
mò trăng đáy nước means to make a hopeless; to ask for the moon.
Meanings of mò trăng đáy nước in English
Phrase
- idiomatic to make a hopeless, futile or vain effort at doing something; to ask for the moon ≈ mò kim đáy bể
Etymology
Calque of Chinese 水中撈月 /水中捞月 (shuǐzhōng-lāoyuè).
Frequently asked questions
What does mò trăng đáy nước mean in English?
mò trăng đáy nước (phrase) means "to make a hopeless; to ask for the moon".
How do you pronounce mò trăng đáy nước?
IPA: Hanoi [mɔ˨˩ t͡ɕaŋ˧˧ ʔɗaj˧˦ nɨək̚˧˦]; Saigon [mɔ˨˩ ʈaŋ˧˧ ʔɗa(ː)j˦˥ nɨək̚˦˥]. Tones: mò — falling tone (huyền), trăng — level tone (ngang), đáy — rising tone (sắc), nước — rising tone (sắc).