quay đầu là bờ
phrase
Hanoi [kwaj˧˧ ʔɗəw˨˩ laː˨˩ ʔɓəː˨˩]Huế [kwaj˧˧ ʔɗəw˦˩ laː˦˩ ʔɓəː˦˩]Saigon [waj˧˧ ʔɗəw˨˩ laː˨˩ ʔɓəː˨˩] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
Meanings of quay đầu là bờ in English
Phrase
- humorous, idiomatic it is never too late to stop generating negative karma (tạo nghiệp) and start seeking enlightenment instead
Etymology
Calque of Chinese 回頭是岸 /回头是岸 (hồi đầu thị ngạn), from longer 苦海無邊，回頭是岸 /苦海无边，回头是岸 (khổ hải vô biên, hồi đầu thị ngạn), said to be from a work called Dùliǔcuì (度柳翠).
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce quay đầu là bờ?
IPA: Hanoi [kwaj˧˧ ʔɗəw˨˩ laː˨˩ ʔɓəː˨˩]; Saigon [waj˧˧ ʔɗəw˨˩ laː˨˩ ʔɓəː˨˩]. Tones: quay — level tone (ngang), đầu — falling tone (huyền), là — falling tone (huyền), bờ — falling tone (huyền).