trúc mai

Vietnamese

FWOTD – 19 October 2023

Alternative forms

• (Southern Vietnam, obsolete) trước mai

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 竹 (“bamboo”) and 梅 (“plum, apricot”).

See also thanh mai trúc mã.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕʊwk͡p̚˧˦ maːj˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʈʊwk͡p̚˦˧˥ maːj˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʈʊwk͡p̚˦˥ maːj˧˧]

Noun

trúc mai

1. (archaic, literary, figurative) an intimate bond
   • 15th century, Nguyễn Trãi, “自述 Tự thuật 8”, in Quốc âm thi tập (國音詩集):

     𫫵猿鶴嗔方解俗
     眷竹梅結伴知音

     Rủ vượn hạc, xin phương giải tục,
     Quyến trúc mai, kết bạn tri âm.

     Invited the monkey and the crane, to ask them how to detach myself from worldly matters,
     Sought the bamboo and the plum, to make a friend who could share my thoughts.