nương rẫy

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The Vietnamese word "nương rẫy" refers to a type of agricultural land that is used for farming, especially in the context of shifting cultivation. It can be understood as land that has been cleared, often through burning, to grow crops. This method is common in rural areas where farmers rotate their fields to maintain soil fertility.

Explanation and Usage

1. Basic Meaning:

   • "Nương rẫy" can be translated to "burnt-over land" or "shifting cultivation fields." It is often associated with traditional farming practices where land is cleared and cultivated for a few years before being left to regenerate.

2. Context:

   • This term is typically used in rural agricultural contexts, particularly among communities that practice subsistence farming.

3. Example:

   • "Nông dân thường trồng lúa trên nương rẫy." (Farmers often grow rice on shifting cultivation fields.)

Advanced Usage

• In literature or discussions about sustainable agriculture, "nương rẫy" might be used to discuss the environmental impacts of traditional farming practices, including deforestation and soil erosion.

Word Variants

• "Nương": This usually refers to a cultivated field or farm.
• "Rẫy": This specifically refers to land that has been cleared for agricultural use, often in the context of slash-and-burn agriculture.

Different Meanings

• While "nương rẫy" primarily refers to agricultural land, it can also evoke discussions around the culture and lifestyle of rural communities that rely on this type of farming for their livelihood.

Synonyms

• Đồng ruộng: This means "rice paddy" or "cultivated field" and refers to flat lands used for agriculture.
• Khu rừng chờ: This refers to "fallow land," which is land left uncultivated to recover its fertility.

Summary

In summary, "nương rẫy" is an important term in Vietnamese agriculture, especially relevant in discussions about traditional farming methods and rural life.

Academic

1. Burnt-over land, milpa, kaingin