độ

See also: Appendix:Variations of "do"

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 度. For the Buddhist sense of "to help to pass through difficulties", also compare đò (“boat”), derived from Chinese 渡 (dù, “to cross”), which is a derivate of 度 (“to pass; to go over”). The meaning "period" is an extension of "about". Doublet of đạc and đo. Compare Japanese 度 (do, “degree; diopter”).

Pronunciation

(Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ʔɗo˧˨ʔ]
(Huế) IPA^(key): [ʔɗow˨˩ʔ]
(Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʔɗow˨˩˨]

Noun

độ

(geometry, physics, geography) a degree
động đất mạnh 7 độ Rích-te ― an earthquake of magnitude 7
(colloquial) Short for độ C (“degree Celsius”).
Nó sốt nhẹ, cỡ 38 độ.
He has a light 38-degree fever.
(colloquial) a diopter
Synonym: đi-ốp

tăng độ
(of eyes) to get worse vision
(colloquial, by extension) period; time
độ này năm sau ― about this time next year

Derived terms

Verb

độ

(Buddhism and humorous) to help one passing through their obstacles; to save from difficulties
Số gì hên thế, ai độ cho không biết nữa.
Whose blessing did this guy receive to be this lucky?

Trời độ.
God helped him.

Adverb

độ

(colloquial) about; approximately
Synonyms: cỡ, khoảng, chừng