nhau

See also: nháu and nhàu

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ɲaw˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ɲaw˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ɲa(ː)w˧˧]

Etymology 1

Compare also North Central Vietnamese rau.

Attested as nhau, dau (“each other”), in the Dictionarium Annamiticum Lusitanum et Latinum (1651).

Possibly arose from etymology 2 and replaced chắc as the reciprocal marker in the non-North Central dialects.

Adverb

nhau • (饒, 僥, 𠑬, 𬼀)

1. each other, mutually, reciprocally, one another

   Synonym: chắc

   yêu nhau ― to love each other

   cùng nhau ― with each other; together

2. together

Etymology 2

From Proto-Vietic *ʄaw (“placenta”).

Alternative forms

• rau

Noun

nhau • (𦣗, 膮, 澆)

1. placenta, afterbirth

See also

• chôn nhau cắt rốn
• nhau thai