mắc

See also: Appendix:Variations of "mac"

Vietnamese

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Vietic *ɓak, from Proto-Austroasiatic *ɓakʔ (“to carry on back/slung”). Cognate with Muong bắc, Chut [Sách] kəbak⁷, Mang ɓak⁷, Eastern Bru ʔa.bak, Bahnar tơʼbăk, Khmer ពាក់ (pĕək).

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “How did the Southern-Central senses develop semantically?”)

Pronunciation

(Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [mak̚˧˦]
(Huế) IPA^(key): [mak̚˦˧˥]
(Saigon) IPA^(key): [mak̚˦˥]

Verb

mắc • (縸, 黓, 默, 𢹇, 𦄿, 𫄓, 󰄏, 󱓇, 󱕗)

to hang; to hook
to catch; to get caught (in); to be trapped (in); to fall into
mắc lưới ― to get caught in a net
to contract (disease); to catch
mắc bệnh ― to get sick
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) to contract (debt); to owe
(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) to be busy; to be occupied; to be engaged
Đi chơi hả? Để mai mốt gì đi, mắc việc rồi.
Hanging out? Umm, maybe later, I'm kinda occupied with work right now.
(chiefly Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) to want to (go to the bathroom, laugh, etc.); to have the desire to
mắc ói ― wanting to puke

mắc cười ― funny or laughable
(Southern Vietnam) to cause (one to develop a feeling)

Derived terms

Adjective

mắc

(Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam) expensive; dear
Synonym: đắt

Derived terms

mắc mỏ

Noun

(classifier cái) mắc

Short for mắc áo (“hanger”).

Anagrams

cắm