Definition

1. Noun:
   • Small firecracker: A type of small, slender firecracker, typically with a body about the thickness of an incense stick, that produces a sharp, popping sound when ignited. It is primarily used for entertainment, especially during traditional festivals like Tết (Lunar New Year).

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trẻ con thích đốt pháo tép trong dịp Tết. (Children enjoy lighting small firecrackers during Tet.)
  • Âm thanh của pháo tép nghe rất vui tai. (The sound of small firecrackers is very pleasant to hear.)
  • Ông mua một gói pháo tép về cho cháu chơi. (He bought a pack of small firecrackers for his grandchild to play with.)

Advanced Usage

• Cultural Context: "Pháo tép" is strongly associated with Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tết) celebrations. Its use symbolizes warding off evil spirits and bad luck while welcoming a prosperous new year with joyful noise.
  • Ngày xưa, tiếng pháo tép nổ râm ran là không khí không thể thiếu của Tết. (In the past, the constant popping of small firecrackers was an indispensable atmosphere of Tet.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pháo (n): The general term for firecrackers or fireworks. "Pháo tép" is a specific, smaller type.
  • Pháo hoa (n): Fireworks (display).
  • Pháo bông (n): Another term for display fireworks or sometimes a specific type of firecracker.
• Tép (n): Literally means "small shrimp" or a tiny amount. In this compound, it denotes the small size of the firecracker.

Synonyms

• Petit pétard (French loan usage, historical): Small firecracker.
• Small fire-cracker: Direct English translation.

Related Phrases

• Đốt pháo tép: To light/set off small firecrackers.
  • Việc đốt pháo tép nay đã bị hạn chế ở nhiều thành phố. (Lighting small firecrackers is now restricted in many cities.)
• Nổ như pháo tép: (Idiomatic) To pop or crackle incessantly, like a string of small firecrackers.
  • Máy tính cũ nổ như pháo tép trước khi hỏng hẳn. (The old computer crackled incessantly like small firecrackers before breaking down completely.)

Notes on Usage

• The word is a compound noun. Its meaning is specific and cultural. While "pháo" alone can refer to larger firecrackers or artillery, "pháo tép" exclusively refers to the small, playful kind.
• Due to safety regulations, the use of "pháo tép" has declined in urban areas, but it remains a vivid part of cultural memory and traditional descriptions.

1. Small fire-cracker