thanh mai trúc mã
adjective Sino-Vietnamese
Hanoi [tʰajŋ̟˧˧ maːj˧˧ t͡ɕʊwk͡p̚˧˦ maː˦ˀ˥]Huế [tʰɛɲ˧˧ maːj˧˧ ʈʊwk͡p̚˦˧˥ maː˧˨]Saigon [tʰan˧˧ maːj˧˧ ʈʊwk͡p̚˦˥ maː˨˩˦] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
Chinese characters: 青梅竹馬
Meanings of thanh mai trúc mã in English
Adjective
- alluding to the notion of being a childhood friend of the opposite sex to someone and growing to be in love with them or vice-versa
- bạn thanh mai trúc mãthe boy/girl who was one's childhood friend and with whom one's now falling in love
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 青梅竹馬 (“green plums and bamboo horse”), from Chinese 青梅竹馬 /青梅竹马 (qīngméizhúmǎ). Compare Japanese 竹馬の友 (chikuba no tomo, “childhood friend”, literally “bamboo horse friend”).
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce thanh mai trúc mã?
IPA: Hanoi [tʰajŋ̟˧˧ maːj˧˧ t͡ɕʊwk͡p̚˧˦ maː˦ˀ˥]; Saigon [tʰan˧˧ maːj˧˧ ʈʊwk͡p̚˦˥ maː˨˩˦]. Tones: thanh — level tone (ngang), mai — level tone (ngang), trúc — rising tone (sắc), mã — creaky rising tone (ngã).
Is thanh mai trúc mã a Sino-Vietnamese word?
Yes. thanh mai trúc mã is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 青梅竹馬.