tu³¹ ŋɛ̠̃³⁵

Pela

FWOTD – 17 December 2024

tu³¹ ŋɛ̠̃³⁵ tă tsam³⁵ ― a pair of chopsticks

Etymology

From tu³¹ (“thorn”) +‎ ŋɛ̠̃³⁵ (“to clamp?”), possibly a variant of ŋjĩ̠³⁵ ~ ŋjɛ̠̃³⁵ (“to clamp”). Compare Lhao Vo zau꞉ nyhae꞉ (“chopsticks”). The initial t- of the first element originated from former *ts-; a comparison with either Burmese တူ (tu) or Middle Chinese 箸 (ɖɨʌ^H) is therefore implausible.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tu³¹ ŋɛ̠̃³⁵/, [tu³¹ ŋɛ̠̃³⁵] ~ [tu³¹ ŋjɛ̠̃³⁵]

Noun

tu³¹ ŋɛ̠̃³⁵

1. (dated) chopsticks

   Synonym: kʰɔi³¹ tsɛ⁵¹

   tu³¹ ŋɛ̠̃³⁵ tă tsam³⁵ ― a pair of chopsticks

   tu³¹ ŋɛ̠̃³⁵ jaŋ⁵¹ ta⁵⁵ ta⁵¹ ― to eat with chopsticks

Usage notes

• This native term is now considered dated and no longer familiar to most younger speakers. The common word for chopsticks is kʰɔi³¹ tsɛ⁵¹, borrowed from Southwestern Mandarin 筷子 (kuàizi).

See also

• kʰɔi³¹ tsɛ⁵¹ (“chopsticks”)
• tʃɔ̠³¹ (“spoon”)
• kʰɔʔ⁵⁵ (“bowl”)