dậu

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The Vietnamese word "dậu" has a few important meanings and uses, particularly in the context of the Vietnamese zodiac and timekeeping.

Basic Meaning

1. Tenth Earthly Branch: In the traditional Vietnamese zodiac system, "dậu" represents the tenth earthly branch, which is symbolized by the rooster or cock. Each branch is associated with specific characteristics and corresponds to a year in a 12-year cycle.

2. Time Reference: "Giờ dậu" refers to a specific time period from 5 to 7 p.m. This is a part of the traditional Vietnamese way of telling time, where the day is divided into 12 two-hour segments, each associated with an earthly branch.

3. Age Reference: When someone is described as "tuổi dậu," it means they were born in the year of the rooster. This can imply certain personality traits thought to be associated with people born in that year, such as being hardworking and observant.

Usage Instructions

• You can use "dậu" in sentences related to astrology, time, or age:
  • To discuss someone's birth year: "Cô ấy tuổi dậu" (She is born in the year of the rooster).
  • To talk about time: "Bây giờ là giờ dậu" (It is now the time of dậu, or between 5 to 7 p.m.).

Example Sentences

1. Zodiac: "Người tuổi dậu thường rất chăm chỉ." (People born in the year of the rooster are often very hardworking.)
2. Time: "Chúng ta nên bắt đầu cuộc họp vào giờ dậu." (We should start the meeting at the time of dậu, around 5 to 7 p.m.)

Advanced Usage

• In a cultural context, you might hear discussions about the characteristics of people born in the year of the rooster. For example, "Theo truyền thuyết, người tuổi dậu thường rất thông minh và sáng tạo." (According to legend, people born in the year of the rooster are often very intelligent and creative.)

Word Variants

• "Dậu" can be combined with other words to form phrases, such as "tuổi dậu" (age of the rooster) or "giờ dậu" (time of the rooster).

Different Meanings

While "dậu" primarily refers to the rooster in the context of time and zodiac, it does not have many other meanings in modern Vietnamese. However, it’s crucial to understand it in the cultural and astrological context as mentioned.

Synonyms

There are no direct synonyms for "dậu" in the context of the earthly branches, but you may encounter terms like "gà" (chicken) when referring to the animal itself.

Academic

1. The tenth Earthly Branch (symbolized by the cock)
   • Giờ dậu
     Time from 5 to 7 p.m
   • Tuổi dậu
     Born in the year of the cock