be

/bi:/

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The Vietnamese word "be" has several meanings and uses, which can be categorized into nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand this word better.

Noun Usage:

1. Wine Flask:
   • In this sense, "be" refers to a container, specifically a wine flask or bottle. For example, "rượu ngon chẳng quản be sành" translates to "good wine does not mind a terracotta flask." This implies that the quality of wine is not affected by the type of container it is in.
   • Example: "Tôi đã mua một cái be để đựng rượu." (I bought a flask to hold wine.)

Adjective Usage:

1. Beige:
   • As an adjective, "be" describes a color, specifically beige. It is commonly used to describe clothing or objects.
   • Example: "Chiếc áo mưa màu be." (The raincoat is beige.)

Verb Usage:

1. To Build Mud Embankments:

   • As a verb, "be" means to build mud embankments or to surround something with hands. This usage is more specific and might be less common in everyday conversation.
   • Example: "Chúng tôi phải be một con đê để ngăn nước." (We have to build a dam to stop the water.)

2. To Secure the Fullest Measure:

   • Another verb usage is when "be" refers to surrounding the top of a heaped vessel with hands to ensure the fullest measure, especially in the context of measuring grains or beans.
   • Example: "Khi đong đỗ, bạn nên be miệng đấu." (When measuring beans, you should surround the top of the measure with your hands.)

Advanced Usage:

• In some contexts, "be" can also imply a careful or meticulous approach to gathering or measuring something, emphasizing thoroughness in preparation or presentation.

Word Variants:

• There are no direct variants of "be," but it can appear in different contexts where its meaning shifts based on the surrounding words.

Different Meanings:

• The meanings of "be" vary significantly based on its context. It can refer to a physical object (the flask), a color (beige), or actions related to construction or measurement.

Synonyms:

• For the noun "be" (wine flask), a synonym could be "bình rượu" (wine bottle).
• For the adjective "beige," you might use "màu vàng nhạt" (light yellow).
• For the verb meanings, synonyms might include "xây" (to build) or "đong" (to measure) depending on the context.

Summary:

The word "be" is versatile in Vietnamese, functioning as a noun, adjective, and verb.

Academic

noun

1. Wine flask
   • rượu ngon chẳng quản be sành
     good wine does not mind a terracotta flask

adj

1. Beige
   • chiếc áo mưa màu be
     a beige raincoat

verb

1. To build mud embankments on
2. To surround with hands top of heaped vessel (to secure the fullest measure)
   • lấy tay be miệng đấu khi đong đỗ
     to surround the top of a measure with one's hands while measuring beans