kẻng
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A metal gong or bar used as a signal: A piece of metal (often a segment of old railway track) that is struck to produce a loud sound, traditionally used in schools, factories, or military camps to signal times for activities like starting work, breaks, or meals. 2. (Slang) Something stylish, cool, or excellent: Used to describe a person's fashionable appearance or a thing that is considered impressive or attractive.
Usage Examples
- As a signal gong:
- Nghe tiếng kẻng, công nhân vào ca làm việc. (Hearing the sound of the gong, the workers started their shift.)
- Trường tôi dùng một thanh ray cũ làm kẻng. (My school uses an old rail segment as a signal bar.)
- As slang for "stylish/cool":
- Hôm nay anh ấy mặc bộ vest trông rất kẻng. (He looks very sharp in that suit today.)
- Chiếc xe mới của cô ấy kẻng thật! (Her new car is so cool!)
Advanced Usage
- "Đánh kẻng": To strike the gong; to signal by striking the gong.
- Mười hai giờ trưa, bảo vệ đánh kẻng báo giờ nghỉ. (At noon, the guard strikes the gong to signal break time.)
- The slang usage is informal and can convey a sense of being impressively well-dressed or high-quality, sometimes with a slightly flashy or showy connotation.
Variants and Related Words
- Cồng, chiêng: Refers to traditional gongs (often larger and used in cultural/ceremonial contexts, unlike the utilitarian ).
- Chuông: Bell (typically has a different shape and sound mechanism).
Synonyms
- For the signal: hiệu lệnh (signal, command), báo hiệu (signal).
- For the slang: bảnh bao (dapper, stylish), sành điệu (fashionable), ngầu (cool, slang).
Related Idioms/Phrases
- Nghe tiếng kẻng: Literally "to hear the gong"; figuratively means to follow orders or signals obediently, often used in a structured environment like school or the military.
- Lính mới phải học cách nghe tiếng kẻng. (New recruits must learn to follow the signals.)