ngựa quen đường cũ
phrase
Hanoi [ŋɨə˧˨ʔ kwɛn˧˧ ʔɗɨəŋ˨˩ ku˦ˀ˥]Huế [ŋɨə˨˩ʔ kwɛŋ˧˧ ʔɗɨəŋ˦˩ kʊw˧˨]Saigon [ŋɨə˨˩˨ wɛŋ˧˧ ʔɗɨəŋ˨˩ kʊw˨˩˦] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
ngựa quen đường cũ means to relapse into vice.
Meanings of ngựa quen đường cũ in English
Phrase
- idiomatic to lapse back into one's old ways; to relapse into vice
Etymology
Literally “the horse goes on its familiar path”. Calque of Chinese 老馬識途 /老马识途 (lão mã thức đồ), but the semantics has changed.
Frequently asked questions
What does ngựa quen đường cũ mean in English?
ngựa quen đường cũ (phrase) means "to relapse into vice".
How do you pronounce ngựa quen đường cũ?
IPA: Hanoi [ŋɨə˧˨ʔ kwɛn˧˧ ʔɗɨəŋ˨˩ ku˦ˀ˥]; Saigon [ŋɨə˨˩˨ wɛŋ˧˧ ʔɗɨəŋ˨˩ kʊw˨˩˦]. Tones: ngựa — heavy tone (nặng), quen — level tone (ngang), đường — falling tone (huyền), cũ — creaky rising tone (ngã).