bất tử

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ʔɓət̚˧˦ tɨ˧˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʔɓək̚˦˧˥ tɨ˧˨]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʔɓək̚˦˥ tɨ˨˩˦]

Etymology 1

Sino-Vietnamese word from 不死 (“to not die”).

Adjective

bất tử

1. (formal) immortal; everlasting; undying

Etymology 2

Short for bất đắc kì tử (不得其死, “to not get one's (usual) death; to die suddenly”), an idiom originating from the Analects. Compare Chinese 不得好死 (bất đắc hảo tử).

Adverb

bất tử

1. (Southern Vietnam) (dying) all of a sudden; unexpectedly

   chết bất tử ― to drop dead (literally, “die not-die”)

2. (Southern Vietnam, by extension) suddenly; all of a sudden

Adjective

bất tử

1. (Southern Vietnam, colloquial) reckless; rash; unruly