chèo

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕɛw˨˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕɛw˦˩]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [cɛw˨˩]

• Audio (Saigon):

  (file)

From Proto-Vietic *tʃ-r-ɛːw, an *-r- (instrumental derivative) infixed form of Proto-Vietic *tʃɛːw, whence Modern Vietnamese xeo (“to lift up with a crowbar; to propel (a boat) with a long pole”). Related to Vietnamese neo (“anchor”), Khmer ចែវ (caew, “to row; paddle”), ច្រវា (crɑvaa, “oar; paddle”), Lao ແຊວ (sǣu, “to row”). Compare Chinese 櫂 ("oar/to row", SV: trạo).

(classifier cây, cái) chèo • (𣛨)

1. either an oar or a paddle

   Synonyms: mái, mái chèo

chèo • (𢴿)

1. either to oar or to paddle

Unknown. Theories^[1] include:

• A deviation from trào as in trào phúng, since the content of the opera is to make fun of bad practices in the contemporary society.
• A deviation from chầu, whose writing in chữ Nôm include a character for mouth (口 (kǒu)) and a character that reads "chầu". See hát chầu.
• A deviation from chèo.
• A deviation from trò.
• From chèo in chèo thuyền (etymology 1).

chèo • (掉)

1. chèo (traditional Vietnamese opera)