nhài

See also: nhai, nhái, nhãi, and nhại

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ɲaːj˨˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ɲaːj˦˩]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ɲaːj˨˩]

• Audio (Hà Nội):

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Northern Middle Vietnamese mlài, from Chinese 茉莉 (mạt lị, “jasmine”), with the reduction of first syllable of the Chinese term into /m/.

Alternative forms

• (Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) lài

Noun

(classifier cây, hoa, bông) nhài • (𣔦, 𦲒, 𦹹)

1. (Northern Vietnam) jasmine
2. (Northern Vietnam) paper fan pin (fastening slats, originally jasmine-shaped)

Etymology 2

Noun

nhài

1. (archaic, historical) maid; maidservant; abigail