sống mái

Vietnamese

Etymology

sống (“male”) +‎ mái (“female”), the earlier is an alternative form of the now more common trống. The usage of the Northern form indicates that it spread from the Northern region. The compound is likely a calque of Chinese 雌雄 (thư hùng, “female and male; defeat and victory”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [səwŋ͡m˧˦ maːj˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʂəwŋ͡m˦˧˥ maːj˨˩˦] ~ [səwŋ͡m˦˧˥ maːj˨˩˦]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ʂəwŋ͡m˦˥ maːj˦˥] ~ [səwŋ͡m˦˥ maːj˦˥]

Adjective

sống mái

1. (of a showdown) very high-stakes, and that could end very badly for all parties involved regardless of whoever triumphs in the end

   quyết một phen sống mái ― to fight to the death

Usage notes

• Not to be confused with sống mãi (“to live forever”).