khai bút

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 開 (“start, open”) and 笔 (“pen”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [xaːj˧˧ ʔɓut̚˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [kʰaːj˧˧ ʔɓʊk̚˦˧˥] ~ [xaːj˧˧ ʔɓʊk̚˦˧˥]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [kʰaːj˧˧ ʔɓʊk͡p̚˦˥] ~ [xaːj˧˧ ʔɓʊk͡p̚˦˥]

Verb

khai bút

1. to use a pen of any kinds to write or draw at the start of a year, according to tradition

   Khai bút đầu năm. ― To khai bút at the start of a new year.