tùng cúc

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 松 (“pine”) and 菊 (“chrysanthemum”).

Its usage in Vietnamese literature is said to be influenced by/imitate the usage from the poem 歸去來辭 by Tao Yuanming.

三徑就荒，松菊猶存。 [Vietnamese Literary Sinitic, trad.]

From: 歸去來辭, by Tao Yuanming

Tam kính tựu hoang, tùng cúc do tồn. [Sino-Vietnamese]

The three paths were deserted, yet the pine tree and the chrysanthemum were still there.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [tʊwŋ͡m˨˩ kʊwk͡p̚˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [tʊwŋ͡m˦˩ kʊwk͡p̚˦˧˥]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [tʊwŋ͡m˨˩ kʊwk͡p̚˦˥]

Noun

tùng cúc

1. (obsolete, literary) the literati or gentlemen's spirit
   • 15th century, Nguyễn Trãi, “言志 Ngôn chí 15”, in Quốc âm thi tập (國音詩集):

     枌榆了鳥傷圭𪧘
     松菊逋持汝役恒

     Phần du lịu địu/lẽo đẽo thương quê cũ,
     Tùng cúc bù trì nhớ việc hằng.

     The Siberian elm loved its hometown incessantly,
     The pine tree and the chrysanthemum nurtured and kept everyday things as they were.