Definitions

1. Noun:
   • Cork: The lightweight, buoyant, elastic bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus suber), used traditionally in Vietnam for making items like sun helmets, floats, and insulation.
   • Cork oak tree: The tree itself, from which cork is harvested.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Chiếc mũ này được làm bằng điên điển. (This hat is made of cork.)
  • Điên điển là một vật liệu nhẹ và nổi. (Cork is a lightweight and buoyant material.)
  • Người ta thu hoạch vỏ cây điên điển. (People harvest the bark of the cork oak.)

Advanced Usage

• "làm bằng điên điển": made of cork.
  • Chiếc phao cứu sinh làm bằng điên điển. (The lifebuoy is made of cork.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nút chai (điên điển): Cork (as a stopper). While "nút chai" is the common modern term for a bottle stopper, historically "điên điển" referred to the raw material.
• Cây sồi bần: Cork oak tree (a more descriptive or technical term).

Synonyms

• Li-e (from French ): Cork. This is a direct loanword, often used in technical or historical contexts.
• Bần: This can refer to the cork material or the mangrove apple tree (), so context is crucial to avoid confusion.

Notes on Usage

• "Điên điển" is an archaic or highly specialized term in modern Vietnamese. It is primarily encountered in historical texts, descriptions of traditional crafts, or specific regional usage.
• In contemporary language, "nút chai" is universally used for a cork stopper, and "li-e" or descriptions like "vỏ cây sồi bần" are used for the material itself. Using "điên điển" may not be widely understood by all speakers today.

1. Cork
   • Mũ làm bằng điên điển
     A cork sun helmet