oan gia ngõ hẹp
phrase
Hanoi [ʔwaːn˧˧ zaː˧˧ ŋɔ˦ˀ˥ hɛp̚˧˨ʔ]Huế [ʔwaːŋ˧˧ jaː˧˧ ŋɔ˧˨ hɛp̚˨˩ʔ]Saigon [(ʔ)waːŋ˧˧ jaː˧˧ ŋɔ˨˩˦ hɛp̚˨˩˨] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
oan gia ngõ hẹp means foes in a narrow alleyway; much as one wants to; one cannot avoid one's foe.
Meanings of oan gia ngõ hẹp in English
Phrase
- idiomatic, literal foes in a narrow alleyway.
- figurative, idiomatic much as one wants to, one cannot avoid one's foe.
Etymology
Calque of Chinese 冤家路窄 (yuānjiālùzhǎi).
Frequently asked questions
What does oan gia ngõ hẹp mean in English?
oan gia ngõ hẹp (phrase) means "foes in a narrow alleyway; much as one wants to; one cannot avoid one's foe".
How do you pronounce oan gia ngõ hẹp?
IPA: Hanoi [ʔwaːn˧˧ zaː˧˧ ŋɔ˦ˀ˥ hɛp̚˧˨ʔ]; Saigon [(ʔ)waːŋ˧˧ jaː˧˧ ŋɔ˨˩˦ hɛp̚˨˩˨]. Tones: oan — level tone (ngang), gia — level tone (ngang), ngõ — creaky rising tone (ngã), hẹp — heavy tone (nặng).