nhài

See also: nhai, nhái, nhãi, and nhại

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

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

Etymology 1

Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 莉 (SV: lị). Compare Chinese 茉莉 (mạt lị, “jasmine”).

Alternative forms

• lài

Noun

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

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

Etymology 2

Noun

nhài

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