Definition

Noun: 1. A bird (water rail): A type of bird, specifically the water rail, known in Vietnamese folklore and poetry. 2. A plant (rhododendron): A type of shrub or small tree, specifically a rhododendron, known for its beautiful, often red, flowers.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Bird):
  • Tiếng kêu của con đỗ quyên nghe rất ai oán. (The cry of the đỗ quyên bird sounds very mournful.)
  • Trong thơ cổ, đỗ quyên thường tượng trưng cho nỗi nhớ nước, thương nhà. (In classical poetry, the đỗ quyên often symbolizes nostalgia for one's homeland.)
• Noun (Plant):
  • Trên núi, những khóm đỗ quyên nở hoa đỏ rực. (On the mountain, clusters of đỗ quyên rhododendrons bloom with bright red flowers.)
  • Hoa đỗ quyên là một loài cây cảnh được ưa chuộng. (The đỗ quyên flower is a popular ornamental plant.)

Advanced Usage

• Cultural/Literary Symbolism: The word "đỗ quyên" (referring to the bird) carries deep cultural and literary connotations. It is often associated with the legend of the King of Thục (蜀帝 - Vua Thục Đế) who, after losing his kingdom, died and transformed into this bird, its cry forever lamenting the loss. This makes the bird a potent symbol of nostalgia, loss, and unfulfilled longing in Vietnamese and Sino-Vietnamese poetry.
  • Hình ảnh "đỗ quyên" trong câu thơ gợi lên nỗi buồn thương da diết. (The image of "đỗ quyên" in the poem evokes a profound sense of sorrowful longing.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đỗ vũ: An older or variant name for the bird (water rail).
• Chim quốc / Chim cuốc: Common names for the water rail bird, often used interchangeably with "đỗ quyên" in its ornithological sense.
• Rhododendron: The direct English equivalent for the plant "đỗ quyên".
• Marouette: The French term for the water rail bird, as noted in historical dictionaries.

Synonyms

• For the bird: Chim nước (water bird), chim cuốc.
• For the plant: Cây hoa đỗ quyên (rhododendron plant), sơn trà (a term sometimes used for certain rhododendron/camellia species, context-dependent).

Notes on Different Meanings

It is crucial to distinguish between the two primary meanings of "đỗ quyên" based on context: 1. Zoological/Literary Context: Almost always refers to the bird (water rail), especially in poetry, idioms, or classical references. 2. Botanical/Gardening Context: Refers to the plant (rhododendron). The context of gardens, flowers, or plants will clearly indicate this meaning. The two meanings are homonyms but refer to completely different things.

noun

1. water-rail