bảo kê

Vietnamese

Etymology

The first element is certainly a Sino-Vietnamese word from 保 (“to protect”).

Some sources suggest that this word is from 保家 (through a Southern Min lect), but this might just be a case of folk etymology. The Southern Min word might have given rise also to Thai โปเก (“shoddy; of inferior quality”)

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ʔɓaːw˧˩ ke˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʔɓaːw˧˨ kej˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʔɓaːw˨˩˦ kej˧˧]

Verb

bảo kê

1. to offer protection racketeering

   Thằng đó mướn giang hồ bảo kê nên chả ai dám đụng chạm gì đến nó.

   That guy has thugs at his wings so no one dares to do anything to him.