Definition

1. Noun:
   • A handful, a small amount that can be held in one hand: "nọn" refers to a quantity of a granular or small-item substance (like rice, grains, sand) that can be scooped and held in a cupped hand.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Mẹ cho gà ăn một nọn gạo. (Mother fed the chickens a handful of rice.)
  • Bé nhặt được một nọn cát trên bãi biển. (The child picked up a handful of sand on the beach.)

Advanced Usage

• "nọn" as a traditional unit of measure: In some contexts, especially older or rural settings, "nọn" can imply a rough, informal unit of measurement for dry goods, based on the capacity of a hand.
  • Bà bán cho tôi hai nọn đậu. (The old woman sold me two handfuls of beans.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vốc (n): A synonym for "nọn," also meaning a handful. "Vốc" might be slightly more common in everyday modern speech.
  • Anh ấy ăn một vốc lạc. (He ate a handful of peanuts.)
• Nắm (n): Means a grasp or a handful, but can also refer to a fistful or something held in a closed hand, not necessarily cupped.
  • Cô ấy cầm một nắm tóc. (She held a fistful of hair.)

Synonyms

• Handful: The most direct English equivalent.
• Fistful: Emphasizes a quantity held in a closed fist, which can be similar.

Notes on Usage

• Register: The word "nọn" is considered somewhat literary or regional in modern Vietnamese. In everyday conversation, "vốc" or "nắm" are often used instead.
• Context: It is almost exclusively used for dry, loose, granular materials like rice, grains, seeds, or sand. It is not typically used for liquids or large solid objects.

1. Handful
   • Một nọn gạo
     a handful of rice