giấy bản

Definition

Noun:
- Traditional Vietnamese paper: A type of paper traditionally made in Vietnam from the bark of the "dó" tree (a type of Thymelaeaceae plant). It is characterized by being absorbent, having a rough texture, and lacking a glossy finish or sizing agent.

Usage Examples

Noun:
- Người xưa thường viết thư pháp trên giấy bản. (People in the past often wrote calligraphy on traditional dó paper.)
- Tờ giấy bản này rất thấm nước. (This sheet of traditional paper is very absorbent.)
- Nghề làm giấy bản đang dần mai một. (The craft of making traditional Vietnamese paper is gradually fading.)

Advanced Usage

Cultural and Historical Context: "Giấy bản" is not just a material but is associated with traditional Vietnamese culture, used historically for important documents, folk paintings (like Đông Hồ paintings), and calligraphy. It represents a traditional craft.
- Tranh Đông Hồ được in bằng ván khắc gỗ trên nền giấy bản. (Đông Hồ folk paintings are printed from woodblocks onto a background of traditional dó paper.)

Variants and Related Words

Giấy dó: Another common name for the same type of paper, directly referring to the "dó" tree.
- Giấy dó và giấy bản về cơ bản là một. (Giấy dó and giấy bản are essentially the same.)
Giấy mực (literally: paper and ink): A compound noun often used in a literary context to refer to writing, scholarship, or documents, which historically would have been on paper like "giấy bản".
- Công lao được ghi vào giấy mực. (The merits were recorded in the annals.)

Synonyms

Notes on Meaning

Not "Tissue Paper": While the provided reference uses "tissue paper," this can be misleading for modern learners. Modern "tissue paper" (like Kleenex) is soft, thin, and disposable. "Giấy bản" is a sturdy, handmade craft paper. The core meaning is traditional Vietnamese bark paper.
Material Property: The key characteristics are its origin (dó tree bark), absorbency, and lack of surface treatment ("không có hồ" - unsized).