hò

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The Vietnamese word "hò" is a versatile term that can function both as a verb and a noun, and it has a rich cultural significance in Vietnamese folklore and daily life.

As a Verb

1. To Sing Out For / To Shout For:

   • "Hò" can mean to call out or shout for someone or something, often in a loud and spirited manner.
   • Example: “Đến bến hò đò trong đêm khuya” means "to sing out for the boat late at night at a ferry." This captures the essence of calling out to someone (like a boatman) in the dark.

2. To Urge or Encourage:

   • It can also be used to mean urging others to take action together.
   • Example: “Hò nhau đi đắp đê chống lụt” translates to "to urge one another to go and strengthen dykes in anticipation of floods." This shows the community aspect of the term, where people inspire each other to act.

3. To Cry For Food:

   • "Hò" can also refer to calling out for food, especially in a communal or traditional context.
   • Example: “Hò ăn” means "to cry for food."

As a Noun

• Vietnamese Chanty or Work Song:
  • "Hò" refers to a traditional Vietnamese chanty or work song, which is often sung while performing various tasks. These songs help coordinate work and make it more enjoyable.
  • Example: The "Ho Hue" chanty is characterized by its high lyrical quality and is closely tied to everyday working life. Different types of chanties exist for various activities, such as:

Variants and Different Meanings

• There are many specific chanties, such as "ru con" (lulling a baby) and "dua linh" (attending a funeral), each serving a different cultural purpose.
• The term can also be used more broadly in various contexts, from expressing enthusiasm to articulating emotional states.

Synonyms

• In some contexts, "hò" can be synonymous with "hát," which means "to sing," but "hò" has a more specific cultural connotation related to work songs and traditional chants.

Advanced Usage

• In more advanced contexts, "hò" may be used poetically or metaphorically to describe the act of calling for help, urging a community response, or even expressing a longing for something lost, thus enriching the emotional depth of the language.

Academic

verb

1. To sing out for, to shout for
   • đến bến hò đò trong đêm khuya
     to sing out for the boat late at night at a ferry
2. To call on, to urge
   • hò nhau đi đắp đê chống lụt
     to urge one another to go and strengthen dykes in anticipation of floods
3. To cry for
   • hò ăn
     to cry for food
   • hò voi bắn súng sậy
     much ado about nothing

noun

1. Vietnamese chanty, work song
2. Ho Hue (Hue chanty): With high lyric quality, Hue chanty is closely attached to the everyday working life. They play the O chanty with a passionate tune when treading water, mowing weed, harrowing, or following a buffalo treading on paddy. They play the Do Hay chanty with a slow and sad tune when doing some light piece of job (hashing potatoes, chopping marsh-lentil, weaving cloth, lulling a babỵ..). The Ho Bui chanty has a+reasonably fast and rythmical air: One puts forward a tune, and another responds. They play the Nen chanty when building a road or a dyke, the Nen Voi chanty when pounding lime, even the Gia Gao chanty when grinding rice... The river chanties consist of Day Nuoc (pushing water), Mai Day (played when an overloaded boat crosses a waterfall, a very fast flow or strong waves) with very lively parallel sentences, and Dua Ghe (boat race). With no sneering hints, the Mai Nhi tender chanty alluding to warm trysts and heart-rending moans is played when the weather is attractively calm. In addition, there are Ru con (lulling a baby) and Dua Linh (attending a funeral) chanties