mẹ tròn con vuông
phrase
Hanoi [mɛ˧˨ʔ t͡ɕɔn˨˩ kɔn˧˧ vuəŋ˧˧]Huế [mɛ˨˩ʔ ʈɔŋ˦˩ kɔŋ˧˧ vuəŋ˧˧]Saigon [mɛ˨˩˨ ʈɔŋ˨˩ kɔŋ˧˧ vuəŋ˧˧] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
mẹ tròn con vuông means round mother; squared baby.
Meanings of mẹ tròn con vuông in English
Phrase
- literal round mother, squared baby
- figurative you/she (have/has) had a successful delivery, and both you/she and your/her baby are now in good condition
Etymology
Perhaps from the ideal shapes of the sky (tròn (“round”)) and the earth (vuông (“squared”)), rooted in some ancient mythologies that purport that the earth is square and the sky is a dome covering it. See also the Legend of bánh chưng and bánh giày.
Frequently asked questions
What does mẹ tròn con vuông mean in English?
mẹ tròn con vuông (phrase) means "round mother; squared baby".
How do you pronounce mẹ tròn con vuông?
IPA: Hanoi [mɛ˧˨ʔ t͡ɕɔn˨˩ kɔn˧˧ vuəŋ˧˧]; Saigon [mɛ˨˩˨ ʈɔŋ˨˩ kɔŋ˧˧ vuəŋ˧˧]. Tones: mẹ — heavy tone (nặng), tròn — falling tone (huyền), con — level tone (ngang), vuông — level tone (ngang).