Definitions

1. Noun:

   • Shipworm, borer: A type of marine mollusk (teredo) that bores into and damages wooden structures in water, or an insect larva (weevil) that infests and tunnels into sweet potatoes.
   • River (archaic/poetic, used primarily in proper names): A word for "river," now mostly found in the names of specific rivers.
   • The central dividing line on a Chinese chessboard: The horizontal line that separates the two sides' territories on a bàn cờ tướng (Xiangqi) board.

2. Verb:

   • To give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, to perform artificial respiration: To blow air into a person's lungs to restore breathing.
   • To blow with the mouth wide open (less common): To exhale forcefully with an open mouth.

3. Interjection:

   • An exclamation expressing annoyance or indignation: A word placed at the beginning of a sentence to show frustration or anger.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Shipworm/Borer):
  • Con tàu gỗ bị hà ăn hỏng. (The wooden ship was damaged by shipworms.)
  • Củ khoai lang này bị hà đục. (This sweet potato has been bored into by weevils.)
• Noun (River - in names):
  • sông Hồng Hà (The Red River)
• Noun (Chess line):
  • Quân tốt vừa vượt qua hà. (The pawn just crossed the central river/line.)
• Verb (Resuscitation):
  • Bác sĩ phải hà hơi thổi ngạt cho nạn nhân. (The doctor had to give the victim mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.)
• Interjection:
  • Hà! Sao anh dám nói thế! (Hah! How dare you say that!)

Advanced Usage

• "hà hơi thổi ngạt": A fixed phrase meaning "to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation."
  • Kỹ năng hà hơi thổi ngạt rất quan trọng trong sơ cứu. (The skill of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is very important in first aid.)
• "qua hà" (in chess): Refers to a piece crossing the central dividing line on the board.
  • Xe, pháo, mã sau khi qua hà có thể tấn công mạnh mẽ. (The rook, cannon, and knight can attack powerfully after crossing the river.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hàm (Noun): Jaw. (Note: This is a different word, but sometimes confused due to similar spelling.)
• Hả (Interjection): A questioning particle (e.g., "phải không hả?" - "right?"). Different tone and meaning from the interjection hà.

Synonyms

• Con hà (Noun): Specifically means "shipworm."
• Mọt khoai lang (Noun): Sweet potato weevil/borer.
• Sông (Noun): River (the common modern word).
• Cấp cứu hô hấp (Verb phrase): To perform respiratory resuscitation (more formal).

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Bị hà ăn: To be infested/eaten by borers/shipworms.
  • Thuyền gỗ dễ bị hà ăn nếu không được xử lý. (Wooden boats are easily eaten by shipworms if not treated.)
• Vượt hà/Qua hà: To cross the central line (in Chinese chess).
  • Chiến thuật vượt hà cần được tính toán kỹ. (The tactic of crossing the river needs careful calculation.)

Related Idioms

• "Chưa qua hà đã gãy cánh": Literally "Broken wings before even crossing the river." Means failing or giving up prematurely, before the real challenge has begun.
  • Kế hoạch của họ như chưa qua hà đã gãy cánh. (Their plan failed before it even really started.)

noun

1. shipworm teredo, borer sweet potato weevil

noun

1. rive
   • sông Hồng Hà
     The Red river

verb

1. give the kiss of life to