guốc điếu
Definition
- Noun:
- A wooden piece for a water pipe: A small, carved wooden component, traditionally shaped like a clog ("guốc") with two curved ends and a hollowed center. It is designed to be inserted into the "nõ" (the bowl stem) of a "điếu cày" (a traditional Vietnamese water pipe used for smoking thuốc lào, a strong local tobacco).
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ông cụ mất cái guốc điếu nên không hút thuốc lào được. (The old man lost the wooden pipe piece, so he couldn't smoke thuốc lào.)
- Guốc điếu thường được làm từ gỗ cứng. (The water pipe piece is usually made from hard wood.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is highly specific to the apparatus for smoking "thuốc lào". Its function is integral to the assembly and operation of the traditional water pipe.
Variants and Related Words
- Điếu cày (n): The traditional Vietnamese water pipe, typically made of bamboo or wood, used for smoking thuốc lào.
- Nõ điếu (n): The bowl stem or socket of the "điếu cày" into which the "guốc điếu" is fitted.
- Thuốc lào (n): A specific, potent variety of tobacco, often smoked in a "điếu cày".
Synonyms
- Pipe component: A part of a smoking pipe.
- Wooden pipe insert: A piece of wood inserted into a pipe.
Notes on Cultural Context
- The "guốc điếu" is a specialized artifact from traditional Vietnamese material culture, specifically associated with the ritual of smoking "thuốc lào". Its name derives from its resemblance to a wooden clog ("guốc"). Understanding this word requires knowledge of the specific smoking apparatus it belongs to.