gòn
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- Kapok: The silky, white fiber that surrounds the seeds inside the large, pod-like fruit of the kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra). This light, fluffy, and buoyant fiber is traditionally used as stuffing for pillows, mattresses, and life jackets.
- Cotton Wool / Absorbent Cotton: The modern, common meaning refers to the soft, fluffy, and highly absorbent material made from purified cotton, used primarily for medical purposes (cleaning wounds, applying antiseptic) or personal care.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ruột gối được nhồi bằng gòn. (The pillow is stuffed with kapok.)
- Cô y tá dùng bông gòn để sát trùng vết thương. (The nurse used cotton wool to disinfect the wound.)
- Cây gòn trước nhà đang ra hoa. (The kapok tree in front of the house is flowering.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "gòn" is often part of compound nouns specifying the type of material.
- bông gòn: This is the most common term for "cotton wool" or "absorbent cotton," emphasizing the fluffy, ball-like form.
- sợi gòn: Refers to "kapok fiber" or "cotton fiber" in its raw, fibrous state.
Variants and Related Words
- Cây gòn (n): The kapok tree (), a large tropical tree that produces the kapok fiber.
- Bông gòn (n): Cotton wool, absorbent cotton; a ball of cotton.
- Sợi gòn (n): Kapok fiber; cotton fiber.
Synonyms
- Kapok: The natural plant fiber.
- Cotton Wool: The processed medical/personal care product.
- Absorbent Cotton: A more technical term for cotton wool.
Related Terms and Context
- Gòn is distinct from "bông" (which generally means "cotton plant" or "cotton flower") and "vải" (which means "cotton fabric" or "cloth"). "Bông gòn" specifically denotes the processed, fluffy product.
- In Southern Vietnamese, "Sài Gòn" (the former name of Ho Chi Minh City) is etymologically unrelated to this word.