bến nước
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- River wharf, river watering place