lạt mềm buộc chặt

Vietnamese

Etymology

lạt (“bamboo straps”) +‎ mềm (“soft”) +‎ buộc (“to tie”) +‎ chặt (“tightly”), i.e. "soft straps (can) tie (more) securely".

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [laːt̚˧˨ʔ mem˨˩ ʔɓuək̚˧˨ʔ t͡ɕat̚˧˨ʔ]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [laːk̚˨˩ʔ mem˦˩ ʔɓuək̚˨˩ʔ t͡ɕak̚˨˩ʔ]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [laːk̚˨˩˨ mem˨˩ ʔɓuək̚˨˩˨ cak̚˨˩˨]

Proverb

lạt mềm buộc chặt • (笿𥎁𢯜𬘋)

1. (figurative) apply gentle affection to strengthen a bond; don't be overbearing; you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar (especially romantically)