ếp
Definition
- Interjection (archaic):
- A call to clear the way: A shouted exclamation used by a person riding in or on a vehicle (such as a rickshaw, cart, or carriage) to alert pedestrians or others on the road to move aside and make way.
Usage Examples
- Interjection:
- "Ếp! Ếp!" người phu xe vừa đẩy xe vừa hô to. ("Out of the way! Out of the way!" the rickshaw puller shouted as he pushed his vehicle.)
- Nghe tiếng hô "Ếp!", mọi người trên đường vội tránh sang hai bên. (Upon hearing the shout "Make way!", everyone on the road hurriedly moved to the sides.)
Advanced Usage
- This word is considered archaic and is strongly associated with pre-modern forms of transport in Vietnam, such as (rickshaws) or (horse-drawn carriages). It evokes a historical or period setting.
Word Origin and Notes
- Etymology: An onomatopoeic or exclamatory word originating from the calls of street vendors and transport workers.
- Usage Note: The word "ếp" is obsolete in contemporary Vietnamese. In modern contexts, horns (like bicycle bells, car horns) or phrases like (move aside) or (please give way) are used instead. It may appear in historical novels, films, or stories set in the past.
Synonyms
- Make way!: A command to clear a path.
- Clear the road!: An exclamation to remove obstruction from a roadway.
- Warning shout: A general term for a yell used to alert others.