huý kị

Vietnamese

Alternative forms

• húy kị, huý kỵ, húy kỵ

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 諱 (“taboo”) and 忌 (“to avoid”), calque of Chinese 忌諱 / 忌讳 (kị huý).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [hwi˧˦ ki˧˨ʔ]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [hwɪj˨˩˦ kɪj˨˩ʔ]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [wɪj˦˥ kɪj˨˩˨]

Verb

huý kị

1. to avoid; to abstain (from); to refrain (especially in a superstitious and fearful way)

Noun

huý kị

1. a taboo (something culturally forbidden)
2. (historical) name taboo (especially to prohibit using the names of royalty)