phù du
nounadjective Sino-Vietnamese
Hanoi [fu˨˩ zu˧˧]Huế [fʊw˦˩ jʊw˧˧]Saigon [fʊw˨˩ jʊw˧˧] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
phù du means a mayfly.
Chinese characters: 蜉蝣 Classifier: con — e.g. một con phù du (one mayfly)
Meanings of phù du in English
Noun
- a mayfly ≈ thiêu thân
Adjective
- literary ephemeral
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 蜉蝣 (“mayfly”). Compare French éphémère (“ephemeral; mayfly”).
Frequently asked questions
What does phù du mean in English?
phù du (noun) means "a mayfly".
How do you pronounce phù du?
IPA: Hanoi [fu˨˩ zu˧˧]; Saigon [fʊw˨˩ jʊw˧˧]. Tones: phù — falling tone (huyền), du — level tone (ngang).
Is phù du a Sino-Vietnamese word?
Yes. phù du is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 蜉蝣.
What classifier is used with phù du?
Common classifiers: con — for example "một con phù du" (one a mayfly).