TheVietnameseword"cá tươi"translatesto"freshfish" in English. It is a nounusedtodescribefishthat is freshlycaughtandnotfrozen or preserved.
Usage Instructions:
"Cá tươi" is commonlyusedwhenshopping at markets or restaurantstodescribethequality of thefish.
Youmightseesignsthat say "cá tươi"toindicatethatthefishavailable is freshand of highquality.
Example:
"Hôm naytôimuacá tươiđểnấu ăn."
Translation: "Today I boughtfreshfishtocook."
AdvancedUsage:
In Vietnamesecuisine, "cá tươi" is veryimportantbecause it affectsthetaste of disheslike"cá kho"(braisedfish) or "canhchuacá" (sourfishsoup). Chefsoften emphasize theuse of "cá tươi"to highlight thefreshnessandquality of their meals.
Word Variants:
"Cá"means "fish."
"Tươi"means "fresh."
You can combine"cá"withdifferentadjectives or descriptorstospecifytypes of fish, e.g., "cáhồi" (salmon) or "cá biển" (seafish).
Different Meanings:
While"cá tươi"specificallymeans "freshfish," theword"cá" on itsown can refertoanytype of fish, regardless of itsfreshness.
In a broadercontext, "cá" can also be usedmetaphorically in phrases or idioms.
Synonyms:
"Cámới" - Thisalsomeans "newfish," which can implyfreshness in a similarway.
"Cásống" - Thismeans "livefish," emphasizingthat it is alivebeforebeingcooked.