sống mái
Vietnamese
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editsống (“male”) + mái (“female”), the earlier is an alternative form of the now more common trống. The usage of the Northern form indicates that it spread from the Northern region. The compound is likely a calque of Chinese 雌雄 (thư hùng, “female and male; defeat and victory”).
Pronunciation
edit- (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [səwŋ͡m˧˦ maːj˧˦]
- (Huế) IPA(key): [ʂəwŋ͡m˦˧˥ maːj˨˩˦] ~ [səwŋ͡m˦˧˥ maːj˨˩˦]
- (Saigon) IPA(key): [ʂəwŋ͡m˦˥ maːj˦˥] ~ [səwŋ͡m˦˥ maːj˦˥]
Adjective
edit- (of a showdown) very high-stakes, and that could end very badly for all parties involved regardless of whoever triumphs in the end
- quyết một phen sống mái ― to fight to the death