nước Tàu

nước (“country”) +‎ Tàu (“Chinese”).

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [nɨək̚˧˦ taw˨˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [nɨək̚˦˧˥ taw˦˩]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [nɨək̚˦˥ ta(ː)w˨˩]

nước Tàu • (渃艚)

1. (derogatory, sometimes ethnic slur) China
   • Thiên Nam toàn quốc diễn âm 天南全國演音, pg. 7

     北方夾界渃艚

     Bắc phương giáp giới nước Tàu

     The north borders China.

This term, Tàu and người Tàu may be considered derogatory in contemporary usage. However, historically, it was not considered derogatory. The origin of Tàu (meaning boat) was first used to refer to Ming Chinese refugees who fled to Vietnam via boat when the Qing Dynasty took over China. The remnants of Ming Chinese refugees are nowadays known as the Minh Hương people.

• Trung Quốc
• người Tàu
• Ba Tàu