bút nghiên

Vietnamese

Etymology

Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 筆硯 (SV: bút nghiễn).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ʔɓut̚˧˦ ŋiən˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʔɓʊk̚˦˧˥ ŋiəŋ˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʔɓʊk͡p̚˦˥ ŋiəŋ˧˧]

Noun

bút nghiên

1. (literally) brushes and inkstone
2. (figurative) studies; literary endeavours

   theo đòi bút nghiên ― to ready oneself for one's studies