cau

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The Vietnamese word "cau" has several meanings and uses, and it can function as both a noun and a verb.

As a Noun:

1. Areca Nut: "Cau" primarily refers to the areca nut, which is the seed of the areca palm. It is commonly used in Vietnam for chewing with betel leaves. This is a traditional practice in many parts of Southeast Asia.

   • Example: "Người Việt Nam thường nhai cau với trầu." (Vietnamese people often chew areca nut with betel leaves.)

2. Cultivation Context: The term "cau" can also refer to the land where areca palms are grown. In farming, there is a saying: "đất thiếu trồng dừa, đất thừa trồng cau," which means "when short of land, grow coconut trees; when with land to spare, grow areca nuts."

   • Example: "Khi có đất trống, họ trồng cau." (When there is empty land, they plant areca palms.)

3. Bunch of Areca Nuts: The phrase "buồng cau" means a bunch of areca nuts.

   • Example: "Buồng cau chín vàng." (The bunch of areca nuts is ripe and yellow.)

As a Verb:

1. To Frown/Scowl: "Cau" can also be a verb that means to knit one's brows, scowl, or frown. This expression is used when someone is thinking hard or is displeased.
   • Example: "Cau mày suy nghĩ" means "to knit one's brows while thinking."
   • Example: "Cô ấy cau mặt khi nghe tin buồn." (She frowned when she heard the bad news.)

Advanced Usage:

• In literature or poetry, "cau" can symbolize thoughtfulness or seriousness, often used to describe a character's emotional state.
• The expression "cau mặt" can be used to describe someone who is visibly upset or annoyed.

Word Variants:

• Cau mày: To frown or knit one's brows.
• Buồng cau: A bunch of areca nuts.

Different Meanings:

• Literal Meaning: The areca nut and the action of frowning.
• Figurative Meaning: It can symbolize a state of worry or contemplation.

Synonyms:

• For the noun (areca nut): "hạt cau" (areca seed).
• For the verb (to frown): "nhăn mặt" (to wrinkle one’s face) or "cau có" (to be grumpy).

Academic

noun

1. Areca, betel-nut
   • đất thiếu trồng dừa, đất thừa trồng cau
     when short of land, grow coconut-trees; when with land to spare, grow areca-nut
   • buồng cau
     a bunch of areca-nut

verb

1. To knit (one's brows), to scowl, to frown
   • cau mày suy nghĩ
     to knit one's brows thinking
   • cau mặt
     to scowl