Vietnamese

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Inherited from Proto-Vietic *c-ruː (deep), from Proto-Austroasiatic *ɟruːʔ (deep). Cognate with Muong Bi khu, Khmer ជ្រៅ (crɨw), Bahnar jrŭ, Pacoh tru, Khmu [Cuang] ɟruʔ.

Alternative forms

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  • (North Central Vietnam) su (no diphthongization)

Adjective

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sâu (, , )

  1. deep (having its bottom far down)
    Antonym: nông
Derived terms
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Adverb

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sâu (, , )

  1. deeply

Etymology 2

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Regarding the adjectival sense, compare Japanese 虫歯 (mushiba, literally bug tooth).

Alternative forms

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  • (North Central Vietnam) trâu

Noun

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(classifier con) sâu (, 󱟗, )

  1. caterpillar (larva of a butterfly)
  2. (by extension) pest (animal regarded as a nuisance, especially to crops)
    sâu hạipest
    • 2012, Hữu An, “Cách phòng trị Mối và Châu chấu trên cây khoai mì”, in Thuốc sát trùng Cần Thơ[1]:
      Tuy nhiên, Mối và châu chấu là hai loại sâu hại cần phải phòng trừ.
      However, termites and grasshoppers are to harmful pests that need to be controlled.

Adjective

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sâu (, 󱟗, )

  1. (of a tooth) with a cavity
    răng sâua tooth with a cavity
    sâu răng(of a person) with cavities
Derived terms
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See also

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