cải lương

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 改良, composed of 改 (“to change”) and 良 (“good, honest”).

Pronunciation

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

Noun

cải lương

1. (chiefly philosophy) reform
2. kind of folk musical theater originated from southern Vietnam ("reformed theatre")

Descendants

• → Khmer: (sense 2) កៃលឿង (kaylɨəng)

Verb

cải lương

1. to improve; to reform