Definition

1. Noun:
   • A coldish north-westerly wind: A light, chilly wind that typically blows in autumn (fall) in Vietnam, signaling the change of seasons.
   • Autumnal breeze: A cool, gentle wind characteristic of the autumn months.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trời đã vào thu, gió heo may se se lạnh. (Autumn has arrived, the heo may wind is slightly chilly.)
  • Mỗi khi heo may về, tôi lại nhớ quê hương. (Whenever the heo may wind comes, I miss my homeland.)

Advanced Usage

• "Gió heo may": This is the most common and complete phrase. While "heo may" alone is understood, it is almost always used with "gió" (wind) to form the compound term "gió heo may" (heo may wind).
• "Heo may về" / "Heo may thổi": Phrases meaning "the wind arrives/blows," used to poetically describe the onset of autumn.
  • Heo may đã về trên từng con phố. (The heo may wind has arrived on every street.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gió bấc (n): A general term for the cold north wind that blows in winter; it is stronger and colder than "gió heo may."
• Gió mùa đông bắc (n): The northeast monsoon wind, a broader weather system that brings the cold, dry season to northern Vietnam. "Gió heo may" is often considered an early sign or a lighter manifestation of this monsoon.

Synonyms

• Gió thu (n): Autumn wind. A more general term, while "gió heo may" specifies a type of cool, autumnal north-westerly wind.
• Gió lạnh nhẹ (n): A light cold wind. This is a descriptive phrase rather than a specific cultural term like "heo may."

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Se se lạnh gió heo may": A common poetic description meaning "the slight chill of the wind." It evokes the sensory feeling of early autumn.
  • Tiết trời Hà Nội se se lạnh gió heo may. (Hanoi's weather is slightly chilly with the heo may wind.)

1. ay Coldish north-westerly wind (blowing in autumn)