sơ khai
adjectivenoun
Hanoi [səː˧˧ xaːj˧˧]Huế [ʂəː˧˧ kʰaːj˧˧]Saigon [ʂəː˧˧ kʰaːj˧˧] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
sơ khai means initial; primordial; original.
Meanings of sơ khai in English
Adjective
- initial; primordial; original; early
- Trái Đất sơ khaiPrimordial Earth
- Tế bào sơ khaiThe Protocell (the original cell)
Noun
- figurative a stub (as an early, incomplete composition)
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 初 (“beginning”) and 開 (“to start; to open”), calque of Chinese 開初 /开初 (khai sơ, “originally; early”).
Frequently asked questions
What does sơ khai mean in English?
sơ khai (adjective) means "initial; primordial; original".
How do you pronounce sơ khai?
IPA: Hanoi [səː˧˧ xaːj˧˧]; Saigon [ʂəː˧˧ kʰaːj˧˧]. Tones: sơ — level tone (ngang), khai — level tone (ngang).