tẩu vi thượng sách
Appearance
Vietnamese
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Sino-Vietnamese word from 走為上策, composed of 走 (“fleeing”), 為 (“is”) and 上策 (“the best plan”), likely from a Chinese drama variant of 走為上計 / 走为上计 (tẩu vi thượng kế), the 36th of the Thirty-Six Stratagems. Compare Japanese 三十六計逃げるに如かず (Sanjūrokkei nigeru ni shikazu).
Pronunciation
[edit]- (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [təw˧˩ vi˧˧ tʰɨəŋ˧˨ʔ sajk̟̚˧˦]
- (Huế) IPA(key): [təw˧˨ vɪj˧˧ tʰɨəŋ˨˩ʔ ʂat̚˦˧˥] ~ [təw˧˨ vɪj˧˧ tʰɨəŋ˨˩ʔ sat̚˦˧˥]
- (Saigon) IPA(key): [təw˨˩˦ vɪj˧˧ tʰɨəŋ˨˩˨ ʂat̚˦˥] ~ [təw˨˩˦ jɪj˧˧ tʰɨəŋ˨˩˨ sat̚˦˥]
Audio (Hà Nội): (file)
Phrase
[edit]- (humorous) when in a pinch, the best course of action is to flee