Definition

1. Noun:
   • Lotus seed pod: The dried, flat, disc-shaped, and porous receptacle of a lotus flower that contains the lotus seeds. It is the part that remains after the petals fall off.
   • (Botany) Lotus receptacle: The botanical structure, specifically the enlarged, spongy, and concave top of the flower stalk (torus) that holds the lotus seeds.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Sau khi hoa sen tàn, gương sen được thu hoạch để lấy hạt. (After the lotus flower withers, the lotus seed pod is harvested to get the seeds.)
  • Gương sen khô thường được dùng trong trang trí và đông y. (Dried lotus seed pods are often used in decoration and traditional medicine.)
  • Nhìn vào cấu trúc tổ ong của gương sen, người ta có thể cảm nhận vẻ đẹp của tự nhiên. (Looking at the honeycomb structure of the lotus receptacle, one can appreciate the beauty of nature.)

Advanced Usage

• In Traditional Medicine: "Gương sen" (often called "liên phòng" in medicinal contexts) is used as a herbal ingredient.
  • Gương sen sao vàng là một vị thuốc giúp cầm máu. (Charred lotus receptacle is a medicinal herb that helps stop bleeding.)
• In Art and Decoration: The distinctive, geometric pattern of the dried pod makes it a popular decorative and symbolic item.
  • Kiến trúc sư lấy cảm hứng từ hình dáng gương sen để thiết kế mái vòm. (The architect drew inspiration from the shape of the lotus seed pod to design the dome.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đài sen / Liên đài: Alternative or more botanical terms for "gương sen," meaning the lotus receptacle.
• Hạt sen: Lotus seed (the seeds contained within the "gương sen").
• Ngó sen: Lotus stem.
• Lotus seed head: A common English translation for "gương sen," especially when referring to its decorative form.

Synonyms

• Lotus head: (Common synonym in English)
• Lotus capsule: (Less common, but accurate)

Related Phrases / Compound Words

• Củ sen: Lotus root.
• Tâm sen: Lotus embryo (the green shoot inside a lotus seed, used in tea).
• Trà tâm sen: Lotus embryo tea.

Related Idioms

• "Sen trong gương": A poetic phrase meaning "lotus in a mirror," symbolizing something beautiful but intangible or illusory. Note: This idiom uses "gương" meaning "mirror," not "gương sen."
• "Bùn lầy nước đọng" nhưng vẫn "vươn lên như sen": "From muddy stagnant water" but still "rising like a lotus," praising resilience and purity. This idiom references the whole lotus plant, not specifically the seed pod.

1. (tiếng địa phương) Lotus seed-pod