thảo mai

Vietnamese edit

Etymology edit

Sino-Vietnamese word from 草 (“grasses, herbs”) and 梅 (“Prunus mume, Ochna integerrima”); with the figurative connation being "innocent-looking". Apparently a Vietnamese construct.

Pronunciation edit

(Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [tʰaːw˧˩ maːj˧˧]
(Huế) IPA^(key): [tʰaːw˧˨ maːj˧˧]
(Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [tʰaːw˨˩˦ maːj˧˧]

Adjective edit

thảo mai

(slang, derogatory) smarmy or affected with the sole intention to gain approval