Definition

1. Noun:
   • The character "ngũ" (五): Refers specifically to the Chinese character "五" (meaning "five") in the Vietnamese writing system, which is derived from Hán-Nôm characters.
   • A sitting posture: Describes a specific way of sitting where the legs are crossed, resembling the shape of the character "五". This is a common idiom in Vietnamese.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy ngồi vắt chân chữ ngũ. (He sits with his legs crossed in the "ngũ" character style.)
  • Tư thế chữ ngũ rất phổ biến khi ngồi thiền. (The "ngũ" character posture is very common when meditating.)

Advanced Usage

• "vắt chân chữ ngũ": This is a fixed phrase meaning "to sit with legs crossed (in a specific, often relaxed or meditative, posture)". The phrase explicitly compares the leg position to the shape of the character.
  • Cụ già ngồi vắt chân chữ ngũ dưới gốc cây. (The old man sat with his legs crossed under the tree.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chéo chân: To cross one's legs (a more general term, not specifically referring to the shape of the character "ngũ").
• Ngồi khoanh chân: To sit with legs folded (often used for sitting on the floor).

Synonyms

• Ngồi bắt chéo chân: To sit with legs crossed.
• Ngồi kiết già: To sit in the lotus position (a specific, formal cross-legged posture for meditation, more precise than "chữ ngũ").

Related Idioms

• "Ngồi chữ ngũ": An abbreviated form of "ngồi vắt chân chữ ngũ", meaning to sit cross-legged.
  • Trẻ con thường thích ngồi chữ ngũ trên sàn nhà. (Children often like to sit cross-legged on the floor.)

1. chân vắt chữ ngũ crossed legs
   • ngồi vắt chân chữ ngũ
     to sit with crossed legs