Definition

1. Noun:
   • Pearl: A small, hard, typically round, and lustrous object produced within the shell of a pearl oyster or other mollusk, often used as a gem in jewelry.
   • Bead (made from mother-of-pearl): A small, decorative object, often spherical, made from mother-of-pearl material.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cô ấy đeo một chuỗi hạt trai trắng. (She is wearing a string of white pearls.)
  • Chiếc vòng tay được làm từ những hạt trai nhỏ. (The bracelet is made from small mother-of-pearl beads.)
  • Hạt trai tự nhiên rất quý giá. (Natural pearls are very precious.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ngọc trai" vs. "Hạt trai": While both can mean "pearl," "ngọc trai" often emphasizes the gemstone's preciousness and beauty, whereas "hạt trai" can refer more generally to a pearl or a bead-shaped piece of mother-of-pearl.
  • Nghề nuôi ngọc trai (The pearl farming industry) – Here, "ngọc trai" is more common for the commercial product.
  • Khuy áo bằng hạt trai (Buttons made of mother-of-pearl) – "Hạt trai" is suitable for describing the material in smaller, utilitarian items.

Variants and Related Words

• Ngọc trai (n): Pearl. Often used interchangeably with "hạt trai," but can carry a more refined or precious connotation.
• Xà cừ (n): Mother-of-pearl. The iridescent lining of the shell, which is the material used to make "hạt trai" beads or inlays.
• Trai (n): Oyster, mussel. The mollusk that produces pearls or the mother-of-pearl material.

Synonyms

• Ngọc (n): Gem, jewel. A broader term for precious stones, which can include pearls in a poetic or general sense.
• Hạt ngọc (n): Literally "gem bead," sometimes used poetically for a pearl.

Related Phrases

• Hạt trai nhân tạo (n): Cultured pearl or imitation pearl.
  • Chiếc vòng cổ này làm bằng hạt trai nhân tạo. (This necklace is made from cultured pearls.)
• Công nghiệp hạt trai (n): Pearl industry.
  • Vùng biển này nổi tiếng với công nghiệp hạt trai. (This coastal region is famous for its pearl industry.)

1. Pearl
   • Một chuỗi hạt trai
     A necklace of pearls