phong ba

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 風波, composed of 風 and 波.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [fawŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓaː˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [fawŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓaː˧˧] ~ [fɔŋ˧˧ ʔɓaː˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [fawŋ͡m˧˧ ʔɓaː˧˧]

Noun

phong ba

1. a storm; a tempest
2. (figuratively) the vicissitudes of life; the reverses or tricks of fortune; the ups and downs

   Cuộc đời phong ba ― a life full of vicisstudes

3. (rare) a storm of anger

   nồi cơm phong ba ― to get into a storm of anger