chu vi

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 周圍, composed of 周 (“circumference”) and 圍 (“to surround”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕu˧˧ vi˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕʊw˧˧ vɪj˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [cʊw˧˧ vɪj˧˧] ~ [cʊw˧˧ jɪj˧˧]

Noun

chu vi

1. (geometry) a perimeter

   chu vi hình vuông ― the perimeter of a square

   chu vi hình tròn ― the perimeter/circumference of a circle

2. surroundings; vicinity; periphery

Usage notes

Unlike English perimeter, chu vi has no specific hyponym for "circumference". The độ dài đường tròn (literally “length of a circular line”) is often called the chu vi hình tròn (literally “bound of a circular shape”) in elementary geometry, just like the chu vi hình vuông (literally “bound of a squared shape”), which is properly called "perimeter" in English. In middle-school and higher geometry, precise terminology and distinctions must be understood.