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.)

noun

1. smart