hồng hạc
Definition
- Noun:
- Flamingo: A type of large wading bird with long legs, a long neck, and pink or reddish feathers. This is the primary and most common meaning of "hồng hạc" in modern Vietnamese.
- A type of seedless persimmon: A specific variety of persimmon (a fruit) from Hạc Trì, Phú Thọ province, characterized by being large, crisp, and seedless. This is a specific, regional meaning.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Bird):
- Đàn hồng hạc đang kiếm ăn ở đầm lầy. (A flock of flamingos is foraging in the marsh.)
- Màu hồng của chim hồng hạc đến từ thức ăn của chúng. (The pink color of flamingos comes from their food.)
- Noun (Fruit):
- Hồng hạc Hạc Trì nổi tiếng vì giòn ngọt và không hạt. (Hạc Trì persimmons are famous for being crisp, sweet, and seedless.)
- Mùa thu là mùa của hồng hạc. (Autumn is the season for this type of persimmon.)
Advanced Usage
- "Hồng hạc" in compound names: When referring to the bird, "hồng hạc" is the standard term. In biological contexts, the family is "họ Hồng hạc" (Phoenicopteridae).
- Hồng hạc là một loài chim di cư. (Flamingos are a migratory bird species.)
Variants and Related Words
- Chim hồng hạc: A more explicit phrase for "flamingo" (literally "flamingo bird").
- Quả hồng hạc / Trái hồng hạc: A more explicit phrase for the persimmon variety (literally "flamingo persimmon fruit").
- Hồng: General term for persimmon.
- Hạc: General term for crane or stork (a different type of bird).
Synonyms
- For the bird: (English loanword sometimes used). There is no perfect common synonym in Vietnamese; "chim nước có cổ dài màu hồng" (long-necked pink water bird) is a descriptive phrase.
- For the fruit: (crisp seedless persimmon) is a descriptive synonym.
Related Phrases
- Đàn hồng hạc: A flock of flamingos.
- Vườn hồng hạc: A persimmon orchard (specifically for the Hạc Trì variety).
Related Idioms
There are no common idioms specifically using the word "hồng hạc." Its meanings are quite literal, referring either to the specific bird or the specific fruit.