mỏ quạ
Definition
Noun:
- Crow's beak: The literal meaning refers to the beak of a crow, a black bird.
- Traditional headscarf / turban: A traditional Vietnamese head covering, typically triangular or shaped, worn by women in the northern regions, especially in the past. The name likely comes from its pointed shape resembling a crow's beak.
Noun (Botany):
- A type of tree (Cudrania cochinchinensis): A species of tree in the mulberry family (Moraceae), also known as "mỏ quạ" or "vàng nghệ" in Vietnamese. Its roots are sometimes used in traditional medicine.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Clothing):
- Bà tôi thường đội khăn mỏ quạ khi ra đồng. (My grandmother often wore a mỏ quạ headscarf when going to the field.)
- Noun (Literal):
- Mỏ quạ rất cứng và sắc. (The crow's beak is very hard and sharp.)
- Noun (Botany):
- Rễ cây mỏ quạ được dùng trong một số bài thuốc nam. (The root of the mỏ quạ tree is used in some traditional remedies.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is most commonly encountered in the compound form "khăn mỏ quạ" to specify the traditional headscarf, distinguishing it from the literal bird's beak or the tree.
Variants and Related Words
- Khăn mỏ quạ (n): The traditional headscarf. This is the most frequent usage of the term.
- Cây mỏ quạ (n): The tree.
Synonyms
- For headscarf: Traditional turban, head wrap.
- For bird part: Crow's bill, corvid beak.
- For tree: Cudrania, vanilla tree (common name for , a related species).
Cultural Note
- The "khăn mỏ quạ" is a recognizable part of the traditional costume of northern Vietnamese women, particularly associated with the Kinh ethnic group and rural life in earlier periods. It is often seen as a symbol of diligence and simplicity.