Definition

Noun: 1. River wharf, river landing: A designated place along a riverbank where boats and small vessels can dock to load and unload passengers or goods. 2. River watering place: A specific spot by a river used for collecting water, often for daily household needs, or where animals come to drink.

Usage Examples

• As a river wharf/landing:
  • Thuyền của ông ấy cập bến nước lúc hoàng hôn. (His boat docked at the river wharf at dusk.)
  • Bến nước này là nơi trao đổi hàng hóa chính của làng. (This river landing is the village's main place for trading goods.)
• As a watering place:
  • Các cô gái trong làng thường ra bến nước lấy nước vào mỗi sáng. (The village girls often go to the river watering place to fetch water every morning.)
  • Trâu bò thường tụ tập ở bến nước để uống nước. (Buffaloes and cows often gather at the watering place to drink.)

Advanced Usage

• Cultural and communal significance: In the context of Vietnamese ethnic minority cultures (e.g., Ê-đê, Gia-rai), a "bến nước" is far more than a physical location. It is a vital cultural and social hub for the community, often considered sacred. It is a place for social interaction, where young people meet, and is central to community rituals and identity.
  • Bến nước của người Ê-đê không chỉ là nơi lấy nước mà còn là linh hồn của buôn làng. (The "bến nước" of the Ede people is not just a place to get water but also the soul of the village.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bến (noun): Wharf, pier, landing stage. A more general term for any docking place (e.g., - bus station, - ship harbor).
• Bờ sông (noun): Riverbank. Refers to the general bank of the river, not specifically a designated docking or watering spot.
• Bãi tắm (noun): A bathing spot or beach by the water.

Synonyms

• Bến sông (noun): River wharf/landing. A direct synonym.
• Nơi lấy nước (noun phrase): Water fetching place. Describes the function but lacks the cultural/communal nuance.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Nhớ về bến nước quê hương: To remember/long for the homeland's river landing. This phrase evokes nostalgia for one's rural or village origins.
  • Dù đi xa, lòng anh vẫn nhớ về bến nước quê hương. (Even when far away, his heart still longs for the river landing of his homeland.)

noun

1. River wharf, river watering place