Definition

1. Noun:
   • Water-wheel: A traditional, typically simple, wooden wheel that uses flowing water to lift water for irrigation or to power machinery, such as for grinding grain. It is a common sight in the rural, often mountainous, areas of Vietnam.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Người dân tộc thiểu số thường dùng cọn để đưa nước lên ruộng. (Ethnic minorities often use a water-wheel to lift water to their fields.)
  • Chiếc cọn quay liên tục nhờ dòng suối chảy. (The water-wheel turns continuously thanks to the flowing stream.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "cọn" specifically denotes a traditional, locally constructed device. It is not used for modern industrial turbines or pumps.
• It is often associated with the serene and pastoral imagery of the Vietnamese countryside.

Variants and Related Words

• Guồng nước: This is a more general or descriptive term for a water-wheel.
  • Họ xây một guồng nước lớn. (They built a large water-wheel.)

Synonyms

• Water-wheel: The direct English equivalent.
• Noria: A specific type of water-wheel used for lifting water.

Related Cultural Context

• "Cọn nước": While "cọn" alone is sufficient, it is sometimes explicitly called "cọn nước" (water wheel). It represents traditional agricultural ingenuity and is a symbol of rural life.
  • Tiếng cọn nước kêu cót két là âm thanh quen thuộc của làng quê. (The creaking sound of the water-wheel is a familiar sound of the countryside.)

noun

1. Water-wheel