Definition

1. Noun:

   • Female of certain animals (especially pigs): "Nái" specifically refers to a female animal kept for breeding purposes, most commonly a sow (female pig).
   • (Rare/Obsolete) Doupion silk: A coarse type of silk thread spun from double cocoons.

2. Adjective:

   • (Of livestock) Female breeding animal: Used to describe an animal (like a pig, buffalo, or cow) that is female and raised for reproduction.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Con heo nái này sắp đẻ. (This sow is about to give birth.)
  • Trang trại có mười con trâu nái. (The farm has ten female buffalo (for breeding).)

• Adjective:

  • Lợn nái (breeding sow / sow)
  • Bò nái (breeding cow / brood cow)

Advanced Usage

• "Đàn nái": A herd or group of breeding females (pigs, buffaloes, etc.). This is a colloquial shortening where "nái" stands for the animal itself.
  • Đàn nái được chăm sóc cẩn thận. (The herd of sows is carefully taken care of.)

Variants and Related Words

• Heo nái / Lợn nái (n): The most common and specific term for a sow.
• Nái sề (n): A mature, often older, sow that has given birth many times.

Synonyms

• Sinh sản (adj): Reproductive (used for breeding purposes). (breeding pig).
• Giống cái (n): Female (animal). More general than "nái," which implies a breeding role.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary and most frequent modern meaning of "nái" is "female breeding pig" (sow).
• The meaning related to "doupion silk" is now rare and largely obsolete in everyday language.
• When used for other animals like buffalo or cow ("trâu nái", "bò nái"), it carries the same specific meaning: a female kept for breeding, not just any female of the species.

1. female of certain animals
   • heo nái
     sow