Definition

1. Noun:

   • Flimsy pretext; excuse: A weak or unconvincing reason given to justify a fault or avoid an obligation.

2. Noun (Botany):

   • Bullock's heart; custard apple (the tree or fruit): A tropical fruit tree (Annona reticulata) and its fruit, similar to the sugar-apple but with a smooth skin.

3. Adjective (Colloquial):

   • Plenty; abundant; a lot: Used informally to indicate a large quantity of something, especially money.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Pretext):

  • Anh ta lấy nê đau bụng để không đi làm. (He used the flimsy pretext of a belly-ache to stay away from work.)
  • Đừng viện nê nữa, hãy thành thật đi. (Stop making excuses, be honest.)

• Noun (Botany):

  • Quả nê này ngọt và thơm. (This bullock's heart fruit is sweet and fragrant.)
  • Vườn nhà bà có một cây nê rất lớn. (My grandmother's garden has a very large custard apple tree.)

• Adjective (Colloquial):

  • Tiền còn nê, không phải lo. (There's still plenty of money, no need to worry.)
  • Cá ở dưới sông nê lắm. (There are a lot of fish in the river.)

Advanced Usage

• The botanical term "nê" is less common in everyday modern Vietnamese than its synonyms. It is primarily used in specific regional dialects or in older texts.
• The colloquial adjectival use ("nê" meaning ) is considered informal and is more typical of spoken language.

Variants and Related Words

• Cây nê / Quả nê (n): Bullock's heart tree / fruit.
• Lấy nê (v): To use as a pretext; to make an excuse.
  • Hắn lấy nê bận việc gia đình để từ chối. (He used being busy with family matters as an excuse to decline.)

Synonyms

• For "pretext": Cớ, lý do, ngụy biện.
• For "bullock's heart": Mãng cầu dai, bình bát (regional).
• For "plenty" (colloquial): Nhiều, dư dả, phong phú.

Related Idioms

• Viện nê: To plead an excuse; to give a pretext. This is a fixed phrase where "nê" is used.
  • Cô ấy luôn viện đủ thứ nê để trốn trách nhiệm. (She always pleads all sorts of excuses to shirk responsibility.)

1. Flimsy pretext
   • Lấy nê đau bụng để không đi làm
     To stay away from work on the flimsy pretext of a belly-ache
   • Bullock's heart (cây, quả).
2. (thông tục) Plenty
   • Tiền còn nê
     There is still plenty of money