nước sông không phạm nước giếng
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
Meanings of nước sông không phạm nước giếng in English
Phrase
- idiomatic people should keep to themselves and mind their own business
Etymology
Calque of Chinese 河水不犯井水 (hà thuỷ bất phạm tỉnh thuỷ).
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce nước sông không phạm nước giếng?
IPA: Hanoi [nɨək̚˧˦ səwŋ͡m˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ faːm˧˨ʔ nɨək̚˧˦ ziəŋ˧˦]; Saigon [nɨək̚˦˥ ʂəwŋ͡m˧˧ kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ faːm˨˩˨ nɨək̚˦˥ jiəŋ˦˥]. Tones: nước — rising tone (sắc), sông — level tone (ngang), không — level tone (ngang), phạm — heavy tone (nặng), nước — rising tone (sắc), giếng — rising tone (sắc).