Definition

1. Noun:
   • Gem; precious stone: A beautiful, rare, and valuable mineral, often cut and polished for use in jewelry or decoration.
   • Pearl: Specifically refers to a pearl, a hard, lustrous spherical object produced within the shell of certain mollusks.
   • Something precious and beautiful: Used metaphorically to describe a person or thing of great value, purity, or beauty.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cô ấy đeo một chiếc vòng cổ có gắn viên ngọc lấp lánh. (She wears a necklace with a sparkling gem.)
  • Ngọc trai từ biển rất quý giá. (Pearls from the sea are very precious.)
  • Đứa con là viên ngọc quý của cha mẹ. (A child is a precious gem to their parents.)

Advanced Usage

• "ngọc ngà": A compound describing something as delicate, fair, and beautiful, often used for skin or complexion.
  • Làn da ngọc ngà. (A fair, delicate complexion.)
• "ngọc trai": Specifically means "pearl".
  • Vòng cổ ngọc trai. (A pearl necklace.)
• "ngọc bích": Specifically means "jade".
  • Tượng Phật bằng ngọc bích. (A Buddha statue made of jade.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngọc ngà (n): Pearls and ivory; metaphor for precious, beautiful things or delicate beauty.
• Ngọc trai (n): Pearl.
• Ngọc bích (n): Jade.
• Ngọc lan (n): A type of fragrant flower (Magnolia); also a female given name.
• Ngọc thạch (n): Jadeite; jade.

Synonyms

• Đá quý: Gemstone; precious stone.
• Châu báu: Jewel; treasure.
• Trân châu: Pearl (a more literary term).

Related Idioms

• "Ném ngọc trước heo" / "Đem ngọc bỏ chốn lầm than": To cast pearls before swine; to offer something valuable to those who cannot appreciate it.
  • Cho hắn lời khuyên hay là ném ngọc trước heo. (Giving him good advice is like casting pearls before swine.)
• "Trong như ngọc": As clear/transparent as a gem; describing something pure and clear.
  • Giọng nói trong như ngọc. (A voice as clear as a bell/gem.)
• "Mặt ngọc": A face as beautiful/fair as jade; a compliment for a beautiful complexion.
  • Người thiếu nữ với gương mặt ngọc. (The young woman with a jade-like face.)

1. danh từ. gem; precious stone