thảo mai

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 草 (“grasses, herbs”) and 梅 (“Prunus mume, Ochna integerrima”); with the figurative connation being "innocent-looking". Apparently a Vietnamese construct.

Pronunciation

(Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [tʰaːw˧˩ maːj˧˧]
(Huế) IPA^(key): [tʰaːw˧˨ maːj˧˧]
(Saigon) IPA^(key): [tʰaːw˨˩˦ maːj˧˧]

Adjective

thảo mai

(slang, derogatory) smarmy or affected with the sole intention to gain approval