bốn phương

Vietnamese

Etymology

bốn +‎ phương, calque of Chinese 四方 (tứ phương).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ʔɓon˧˦ fɨəŋ˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʔɓoŋ˦˧˥ fɨəŋ˧˧]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ʔɓoŋ˦˥ fɨəŋ˧˧]

Noun

bốn phương

1. (literal, collective) the four cardinal directions

   Synonym: tứ phía

   4 phương, 8 hướng ― 4 cardinals and 8 ordinals

2. (figurative) the whole world

   y học bốn phương ― all kinds of medicines, eastern, western or otherwise