Definition

1. Noun:
   • A traditional Vietnamese single-reed wind instrument: A type of ancient Vietnamese oboe with a conical wooden body and a large, bell-shaped brass bell that resembles a gourd ("bầu").
   • Characteristic sound: The instrument is known for its loud, resonant, and often melancholic or piercing tone, traditionally used in ceremonial and royal court music.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Âm thanh của kèn bầu nghe rất ai oán. (The sound of the kèn bầu is very mournful.)
  • Kèn bầu là một nhạc cụ quan trọng trong Nhã nhạc cung đình Huế. (The kèn bầu is an important instrument in the Hue Royal Court Music.)
  • Nghệ nhân đang thổi kèn bầu. (The artisan is playing the kèn bầu.)

Advanced Usage

• The is a defining instrument of traditional Vietnamese funeral music, where its distinctive sound expresses grief and lament.
  • Tiếng kèn bầu vang lên trong đám tang. (The sound of the kèn bầu rose during the funeral.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kèn (n): A general term for horn, trumpet, or reed instruments.
• Nhạc cụ hơi (n): Wind instrument.

Synonyms

• Vietnamese oboe: A descriptive term in English, though it specifies the Vietnamese type.
• Reed instrument: A general category it belongs to.

Cultural Note

• The is an integral part of Vietnam's intangible cultural heritage, specifically associated with the UNESCO-recognized "Nhã nhạc" (Hue Royal Court Music). Its unique construction and sound are not directly equivalent to any common Western instrument.