hàn the
Definition
- Noun:
- Borax: A colorless mineral, often in the form of a white powder, used in metallurgy (e.g., for welding metals), in medicine, and historically in food processing. It is a chemical compound (sodium borate).
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Hàn the đôi khi được dùng trong chế tạo đồ gốm. (Borax is sometimes used in pottery making.)
- Sử dụng hàn the trong thực phẩm là nguy hiểm và bị cấm. (Using borax in food is dangerous and prohibited.)
- Người thợ dùng hàn the để hàn mối nối. (The artisan used borax to weld the joint.)
Advanced Usage
- While hàn the refers specifically to the compound borax, its mention in modern contexts, especially in Vietnam, is strongly associated with public health warnings due to its illegal and toxic use as a food preservative or texture enhancer in foods like noodles, meatballs, or sticky rice.
Variants and Related Words
- Borax: The direct English equivalent and scientific term.
- Sodium borate / Sodium tetraborate: The formal chemical names for hàn the.
Synonyms
- Borax: The primary and most accurate synonym.
Important Note on Usage
- Hàn the is not a food additive. Its use in food processing is illegal in most countries, including Vietnam, due to its toxicity and potential to cause serious health problems with accumulation in the body. In safe, industrial contexts, it is correctly termed borax.
noun
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borax
