Definition

1. Noun:
   • A traditional Vietnamese headscarf: "khăn mỏ quạ" refers to a square piece of cloth, typically dark in color, that women fold into a triangle and tie around their head, creating a pointed shape resembling a crow's beak ("mỏ quạ") at the forehead.
   • A cultural garment: It is a traditional item of clothing, historically worn by women in northern Vietnam, especially in rural areas or during festivals.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Bà tôi thường đội khăn mỏ quạ khi ra đồng. (My grandmother often wore a "khăn mỏ quạ" when going to the field.)
  • Trong lễ hội, các cô gái mặc áo dài và chít khăn mỏ quạ rất đẹp. (During the festival, the girls looked very beautiful wearing "áo dài" and tying the "khăn mỏ quạ".)

Advanced Usage

• Cultural Symbol: The "khăn mỏ quạ" is often used as a symbol of traditional northern Vietnamese feminine beauty and rural life in literature and art.
  • Hình ảnh người phụ nữ đội khăn mỏ quạ đã trở thành biểu tượng trong thơ ca. (The image of a woman wearing a "khăn mỏ quạ" has become a symbol in poetry.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khăn (n): A general term for scarf, towel, or cloth.
• Khăn đóng (n): A traditional men's turban.
• Khăn xếp (n): Another term for a traditional men's headgear, often part of formal attire.

Synonyms

• Headscarf: A piece of cloth worn over the head.
• Kerchief: A square piece of cloth worn on the head or around the neck. (Note: This is a close translation but does not capture the specific triangular, pointed shape of the "khăn mỏ quạ").

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Chít khăn mỏ quạ: To tie or wear the "khăn mỏ quạ" in the traditional manner.
  • Các nghệ nhân đang biểu diễn cách chít khăn mỏ quạ. (The artisans are demonstrating how to tie the "khăn mỏ quạ".)

1. Kerchief (to be tired in a triangle on the forehead)