tài tử
nounadjective Sino-Vietnamese
Hanoi [taːj˨˩ tɨ˧˩]Huế [taːj˦˩ tɨ˧˨]Saigon [taːj˨˩ tɨ˨˩˦] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
tài tử means an amateur musician.
Chinese characters: 才子 (才 “talent” + 子 “male master”)
Meanings of tài tử in English
Noun
- an amateur musician
- dated a professional in a specific field of art
- archaic a professional musician, often those specializing in old-styled genres (e.g. đờn ca tài tử)
- archaic a man of talent
Adjective
- doing something freely without much commitment or enthusiasm; going through the motions
Words with tài tử
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 才子, composed of 才 (“talent”) and 子 (“male master”).
Frequently asked questions
What does tài tử mean in English?
tài tử (noun) means "an amateur musician".
How do you pronounce tài tử?
IPA: Hanoi [taːj˨˩ tɨ˧˩]; Saigon [taːj˨˩ tɨ˨˩˦]. Tones: tài — falling tone (huyền), tử — dipping tone (hỏi).
Is tài tử a Sino-Vietnamese word?
Yes. tài tử is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 才子.