Definition

1. Noun:

   • A type of wooden boat, often with a cabin: In Vietnamese, "ghe" primarily refers to a traditional wooden boat, typically found in the rivers and coastal areas of Vietnam. It often has a cabin or shelter.
   • Junk (archaic): Historically, it can refer to a type of sailing vessel, similar to a junk.

2. Adjective (obsolete):

   • Many, numerous: An archaic usage meaning "many" or "several."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ngư dân ra khơi trên chiếc ghe của mình. (The fisherman went out to sea on his boat.)
  • Những chiếc ghe đậu san sát ở bến sông. (The boats are moored closely together at the river wharf.)
• Adjective (obsolete):
  • Ghe phen thử thách. (Many times of challenge.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ghe bầu": A specific type of round-bottomed wooden cargo boat.
  • Ghe bầu thường chở hàng hóa ven biển. (Ghe bầu boats often transport cargo along the coast.)
• "Ghe mành": A type of boat with woven bamboo sides.
• "Ghe xuồng": A general term for boats and small craft, meaning water vessels.

Variants and Related Words

• Ghe bầu (n): A round-hulled cargo boat.
• Ghe mành (n): A boat with bamboo-mat sides.
• Ghe xuồng (n): Boats and canoes; a collective term for small vessels.
• Thuyền (n): A more general word for boat or ship. ("Thuyền" is more common in Northern Vietnam, while "ghe" is more common in Central and Southern Vietnam.)

Synonyms

• Thuyền (n): Boat, ship.
• Tàu (n): Ship, vessel (generally larger than a "ghe").
• Xuồng (n): Canoe, small boat.

Related Phrases

• Lênh đênh trên ghe: To drift on a boat (often implying a precarious or wandering life).
  • Cuộc sống lênh đênh trên ghe. (A life adrift on a boat.)
• Chạy ghe: To operate or pilot a boat.
  • Ông ấy biết chạy ghe từ nhỏ. (He has known how to pilot a boat since he was young.)

Related Idioms

• Ghe phen dâu bể: An idiom using the obsolete adjective form, meaning "many vicissitudes" or "numerous ups and downs (in life)."
  • Trải qua ghe phen dâu bể. (To have gone through many vicissitudes.)

noun

1. boat; junk