Definition

1. Noun:
   • Bail; bucket; bailer: A tool, often made of woven bamboo, used for scooping or bailing water, especially in traditional irrigation or to remove water from a boat.
   • Scurf; dandruff: Small, white or grayish flakes of dead skin that form on the scalp and can be seen in the hair or on shoulders.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Bail/Bucket):

  • Người nông dân dùng gàu để tát nước vào ruộng. (The farmer uses a bailer to scoop water into the field.)
  • Chiếc gàu tre đã cũ nhưng vẫn còn dùng tốt. (The bamboo bucket is old but still works well.)

• Noun (Dandruff):

  • Anh ấy bị gàu nhiều nên phải dùng dầu gội đặc trị. (He has a lot of dandruff, so he has to use a special shampoo.)
  • Áo đen dễ lộ gàu trên vai. (Black clothes easily show dandruff on the shoulders.)

Advanced Usage

• "gàu đầu": A common compound specifying scalp dandruff.
  • Cô ấy lo lắng về vấn đề gàu đầu. (She is worried about her scalp dandruff problem.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gầu: An alternate spelling, especially common in the northern dialect for both meanings (bucket/bailer and dandruff).
• Thúng: A general term for a round, shallow basket. While not a direct synonym, it is a related type of woven container.
• Vảy (da chết): Literally "dead skin flakes"; a descriptive term for dandruff.

Synonyms

• For "bucket/bailer": Xô (pail, bucket - often made of metal/plastic), Cái tát nước (water-scooping tool).
• For "dandruff": Vảy da đầu (scalp flakes).

Notes on Different Meanings

• The two primary meanings of "gàu" are entirely distinct and belong to different semantic fields. Context is crucial for understanding.
• The meaning related to farming/water (bucket/bailer) is considered the original, traditional meaning.
• The meaning related to personal care (dandruff) is a modern, common usage.

noun

1. bail; bucket; bailer
2. scurf; dandruff