Ngũ sài

Người bệnh đang uống một thang ngũ sài để giải cảm.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medicinal decoction: "Ngũ sài" refers specifically to a traditional herbal medicine formula or decoction, typically composed of five types of herbs or plants. It is commonly used in folk medicine to treat common ailments like colds or fevers.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Khi bị cảm thường uống thang ngũ sài. (When you have a cold, you often drink a dose of ngũ sài decoction.)
  • Ông lang bốc một thang ngũ sài. (The herbalist prepared a dose of ngũ sài.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in the context of traditional Vietnamese medicine. It is a fixed formula, and the name itself ("ngũ" meaning five) indicates the number of key herbal ingredients.

Variants and Related Words

• Thuốc nam (n): Southern medicine; a general term for traditional Vietnamese herbal medicine.
• Thang thuốc (n): A dose or prescription of medicinal decoction.

Synonyms

• Herbal decoction: A liquid made by boiling herbs.
• Medicinal brew: A drink prepared for healing purposes.

Notes on Usage

• "Ngũ sài" is a specialized term. In modern conversation, more general terms like "thuốc nam" or "thuốc sắc" (decocted medicine) are more common.
• It is not typically used in a figurative or idiomatic sense.