Definition

1. Noun:

   • A type of large-diameter bamboo: "bương" refers to a specific variety of bamboo characterized by its large size and thick culms.
   • A container made from bamboo: "bương" can also mean a section of this large bamboo used as a tube, tub, or bucket, traditionally for carrying water.

2. Verb/Adjective (Colloquial):

   • (To be) ruined, done for, failed: In informal, often vulgar, speech, "bương" describes a state of complete failure, ruin, or being beyond repair. It implies something is broken, spoiled, or has ended disastrously.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Người dân tộc thường dùng ống bương để chứa nước. (Ethnic minority people often use bamboo tubes ("bương") to store water.)
  • Họ dựng cột nhà bằng thân cây bương. (They built the house pillars using "bương" bamboo trunks.)

• Verb/Adjective:

  • Chiếc xe máy cũ ấy bương hẳn rồi, không sửa được nữa. (That old motorbike is completely done for ("bương"), it can't be repaired anymore.)
  • Kế hoạch của chúng tôi có thể sẽ bương nếu trời mưa. (Our plan could be ruined ("bương") if it rains.)

Advanced Usage

• "bương rồi" / "bương hẳn rồi": A common colloquial phrase emphasizing that something is completely finished or has utterly failed.
  • Dự án đó tốn nhiều tiền nhưng cuối cùng vẫn bương rồi. (That project cost a lot of money but ended up being a total failure ("bương rồi").)

Variants and Related Words

• Cây bương: The "bương" bamboo plant.
• Ống bương: A "bương" bamboo tube.
• Bương chảo (Regional): A specific type of large bamboo or a large container made from it.

Synonyms

• Noun: (bamboo - general term), (a smaller type of bamboo), (earthen jar for water).
• Verb/Adjective (Colloquial): (broken), (finished, ruined), (to fail), (slang for ruined/dead).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Làm bương": To mess up, to cause something to fail. (Note: This is a derived verb phrase using the colloquial sense).
  • Anh ta đã làm bương cả buổi thuyết trình. (He messed up ("làm bương") the entire presentation.)

noun

1. Big-size bamboo
   • cột bương
     a bamboo pillar
2. Bamboo tube

verb & adj

1. (To be) done for
   • mái lợp không cẩn thận, chỉ một cơn gió là bương
     this botch of a roof will be done for in only one sweep of the wind