Chúa

See also: chua, Chua, chúa, chùa, chuà, chuā, and chưa

Vietnamese

Etymology

Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 主 (“master; lord”, SV: chủ), perhaps also a clipping of Thiên Chúa. Doublet of chúa (“noble prince/duke”) and chủ (“master; owner”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕuə˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕuə˨˩˦]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [cuə˦˥]
• Homophone: chúa

Proper noun

Chúa • (主)

1. (Abrahamism) God; the Lord

   Synonyms: Thiên Chúa, chúa trời, Thượng Đế

   lạy Chúa

   dear God; oh my God; Heavenly Father

   ơn Chúa

   thank God

2. (rare) Synonym of Thiên Chủ (“Sakra”)

Usage notes

• Unlike in other Chinese-based vocabularies in East Asia, the Abrahamic God is always referred to as Chúa (“Lord”), not *Thần (“God”).

See also

• trời
• tạo hoá