cánh bèo

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The Vietnamese word "cánh bèo" can be understood in a few different ways, primarily related to literature and social contexts.

Basic Meaning:

1. Literal Meaning: "Cánh bèo" literally means "water lily leaf" or "duckweed leaf." In a broader sense, it refers to something that floats or drifts on water.

2. Figurative Meaning: In literature and older usage, "cánh bèo" describes a woman in a drifting or aimless condition, often implying a sense of being lost or lacking direction in life. This usage can have a poetic or melancholic connotation.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "cánh bèo" to describe someone (usually a woman) who seems to be going through life without a clear purpose or direction.
• It can be used in both written and spoken language, especially in literary contexts or when discussing themes related to femininity and social roles.

Example Sentence:

• "Cô ấy cảm thấy như một cánh bèo trôi dạt giữa dòng đời." (She feels like a drifting water lily leaf in the stream of life.)

Advanced Usage:

• In more advanced contexts, "cánh bèo" can be used metaphorically when discussing societal expectations of women, particularly in literature and poetry. It may reflect the struggles women face in finding their identity and purpose in a patriarchal society.

Word Variants:

• "Bèo" on its own refers to various types of floating aquatic plants, which can also be used metaphorically.
• "Cánh" means "wing" and can be combined with other words to describe things that are light and floaty.

Different Meanings:

• Aside from the literary connotation, "cánh bèo" can also describe something that is delicate or fragile, similar to how water plants can be easily moved by the current.

Synonyms:

• "Trôi nổi" (drifting) can be a synonym in certain contexts, describing a state of lack of direction.
• "Lang thang" (wandering) might also be used when referring to someone who is aimlessly moving through life.

Note:

While "cánh bèo" has a poetic and somewhat romantic flavor in literature, be cautious when using it in everyday conversation, as it may not always carry the same weight or significance.

Academic

1. (văn chương, cũ) Drifting condition (of a woman)