công an
Vietnamese edit
Etymology edit
Sino-Vietnamese word from 公安.
Pronunciation edit
- (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [kəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔaːn˧˧]
- (Huế) IPA(key): [kəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔaːŋ˧˧]
- (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA(key): [kəwŋ͡m˧˧ ʔaːŋ˧˧]
Noun edit
- public security
- đồn công an ― public security station
- (colloquial) public security (law enforcement) officer
- nhờ công an chỉ đường ― to ask a public security officer for directions
Usage notes edit
- While công an refers to the law enforcement forces in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, equivalent institutions outside of Vietnam and the People's Republic of China are usually referred to as cảnh sát. Cảnh sát also refers to various branches of such forces in Vietnam.