Definition

1. Noun:
   • Silk: A fine, strong, soft, and shiny fiber produced by silkworms, used to make high-quality fabric. This is the primary and most common meaning.
   • A thin, soft layer: Refers to the tender, unopened sheath of a banana leaf or a betel palm spathe.
   • Something soft and smooth: Used figuratively to describe anything with a very soft, smooth, and fine texture.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Fabric):
  • Cô ấy mặc một chiếc áo dài bằng lụa. (She is wearing an áo dài made of silk.)
  • Lụa Vạn Phúc rất nổi tiếng. (Van Phuc silk is very famous.)
• Noun (Plant Sheath):
  • Lụa chuối dùng để gói bánh. (The banana leaf sheath is used to wrap cakes.)
• Noun (Figurative):
  • Da em bé mịn như lụa. (The baby's skin is as smooth as silk.)

Advanced Usage

• The word "lụa" is central to many cultural concepts and traditional crafts in Vietnam, representing elegance, refinement, and heritage.
• In commerce, "mặt hàng lụa" refers to silk goods or the silk trade.

Variants and Related Words

• Lụa là (n): A refined, high-grade type of silk fabric; often used to describe something very elegant.
  • Giọng nói của cô ấy êm như lụa là. (Her voice is as soft as the finest silk.)
• Hàng lụa (n): Silk products; silk merchandise.
• Dệt lụa (v): To weave silk.

Synonyms

• Silk: The direct translation for the fabric.
• Tơ (n): Silk thread; can sometimes be used more poetically for silk fabric.
• Nhung (n): Velvet (different material but shares the concept of softness and luxury).

Related Idioms and Expressions

• Người đẹp vì lụa: Literally "A person is beautiful because of silk." Equivalent to the English idiom "Fine feathers make fine birds" or "Clothes make the man." It means attractive clothing enhances one's appearance.
• Mềm như lụa: "As soft as silk." A common simile to describe extreme softness.

noun

1. silk