nhành
Definition
- Noun:
- A small branch, twig, or sprig: A thin, secondary division of a tree or plant's branch, often bearing leaves, flowers, or fruit. It implies a smaller, more delicate part than a main branch.
- A sprig used as a decorative element: A small, cut piece of a plant with leaves or flowers, used for ornamentation.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Cô ấy ngắt một nhành hoa. (She plucked a sprig of flowers.)
- Nhành cây nhỏ đung đưa trong gió. (The small twig swayed in the wind.)
- Anh ấy tặng tôi một nhành lá may mắn. (He gave me a lucky leaf on a sprig.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "nhành" is considered somewhat literary or poetic in modern Vietnamese and is less common in everyday speech than its synonym "cành". Its use often conveys a sense of delicacy or smallness.
Variants and Related Words
Cành (n): The more common and general word for branch or bough. It can refer to branches of any size.
- Con chim đậu trên cành cây. (The bird perched on the tree branch.)
Nhánh (n): Branch in a more abstract or figurative sense, such as a branch of a river, a subject of study, or a subsidiary part.
- Anh ấy làm việc cho một nhánh của công ty. (He works for a branch of the company.)
Synonyms
- Twig: A very small, thin branch of a tree or shrub.
- Sprig: A small stem bearing leaves or flowers, taken from a plant.
- Offshoot: A side shoot or branch on a plant.
Notes on Usage
- "Nhành" is often used in fixed, poetic, or descriptive phrases, particularly involving flowers or delicate plants. It is important to distinguish it from "cành" (general branch) and "nhánh" (often figurative branch). In many contexts where "nhành" might be used, "cành" is an acceptable and more frequent substitute, though it may lack the specific nuance of smallness.