Definition

1. Noun:
   • Jade: A hard, typically green stone, often used in jewelry and carvings. In Vietnamese, "ngọc bích" specifically refers to jade, especially the green variety prized for its beauty and cultural significance.
   • Emerald (contextual): While the direct translation can be "emerald," in Vietnamese usage, "ngọc bích" more commonly and accurately refers to jade. The term for the specific green gemstone "emerald" is more precisely "ngọc lục bảo."

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Chiếc vòng tay được làm từ ngọc bích. (The bracelet is made from jade.)
  • Ngọc bích có màu xanh lục rất đẹp. (Jade has a very beautiful green color.)
  • Tượng Phật được chạm khắc từ một khối ngọc bích nguyên khối. (The Buddha statue is carved from a solid block of jade.)

Advanced Usage

• "quý như ngọc bích": (as precious as jade) - Used to describe something or someone of great value.

  • Bức tranh cổ này quý như ngọc bích. (This ancient painting is as precious as jade.)

• "trái tim ngọc bích": (a heart of jade) - A poetic or literary phrase, sometimes used to describe a pure, precious, or cold heart.

  • Câu chuyện kể về một nàng công chúa có trái tim ngọc bích. (The story tells of a princess with a heart of jade.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngọc: (n) A general term for gemstone, precious stone, or jade. "Ngọc bích" is a type of "ngọc."
• Ngọc lục bảo: (n) Emerald. This is the specific term for the green gemstone beryl.
• Ngọc bích Nephrite: (n) Nephrite jade, one of the two minerals commonly known as jade.
• Ngọc bích Jadeite: (n) Jadeite jade, the rarer and often more valuable form of jade.

Synonyms

• Ngọc thạch: (n) Another term for jade, literally "jade stone."
• Ngọc xanh: (n) Green jade/gemstone (a more descriptive term).

Related Phrases

• Đồ ngọc bích: (n) Jade objects, jadeware.

  • Bảo tàng trưng bày nhiều đồ ngọc bích cổ. (The museum displays many ancient jade objects.)

• Màu ngọc bích: (n) Jade green (color).

  • Cô ấy thích chiếc áo dài màu ngọc bích. (She likes the áo dài in jade green.)

Related Idioms

• "Ngọc lành có vết": (Even jade has flaws) - Similar to "Nobody's perfect." It means even precious or good things/people can have minor imperfections.
  • Đừng buồn vì lỗi nhỏ đó, ngọc lành có vết mà. (Don't be sad about that small mistake; even jade has flaws.)

1. Emerald