nuôi ong tay áo
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
Meanings of nuôi ong tay áo in English
Phrase
- to protect or raise someone who could later betray or turn against you; to nourish a viper in one's bosom
Etymology
Literally, “to keep bees [in one's] sleeve” or "to raise carpenter bees". The former is plausible due to wider sleeves being utilized in traditional Vietnamese wear, though it is dismissed by some as folk etymology, while the latter is said to refer to a specific kind of carpenter bee (called ong tay áo, derived from the fact that their hives would normally sink low similar to the said wide sleeves) that was regarded as an ill omen as opposed to honey bees.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce nuôi ong tay áo?
IPA: Hanoi [nuəj˧˧ ʔawŋ͡m˧˧ taj˧˧ ʔaːw˧˦]; Saigon [nuj˧˧ ʔawŋ͡m˧˧ ta(ː)j˧˧ ʔaːw˦˥]. Tones: nuôi — level tone (ngang), ong — level tone (ngang), tay — level tone (ngang), áo — rising tone (sắc).