nước Nam

Vietnamese

Etymology

nước (“country”) +‎ Nam (“South”), literally “the Southern country”, historically in contrast to the imperial middle kingdom of the North, which means China.

Pronunciation

  • (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [nɨək̚˧˦ naːm˧˧]
  • (Huế) IPA(key): [nɨək̚˦˧˥ naːm˧˧]
  • (Saigon) IPA(key): [nɨək̚˦˥ naːm˧˧]

Noun

nước Nam

  1. (literary) synonym of Việt Nam (“Vietnam”)
    • "Nam quốc sơn hà", 1076 version, anonymous; Vietnamese translation attributed to either Trần Trọng Kim or Hoàng Xuân Hãn;
      Sông núi nước Nam, vua Nam ở;
      Rành rành định phận ở sách trời.
      Cớ sao lũ giặc sang xâm phạm,
      Chúng bây sẽ bị đánh tơi bời.
      The Southern countryʼs rivers and mountains, the Southern Emperor inhabits;
      The separation is manifestly allotted in the Heavenly Book.
      How dare you insolent bandits come to invade it?
      You lot will be utterly beaten and routed.

See also

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