Definition

Noun: A punkah (also historically spelled panka or panca) is a traditional, manually operated ceiling fan. It is typically a large, rectangular panel made of woven bamboo or rattan (cót) and covered with cloth, suspended from the ceiling. It is operated by pulling a cord or rope (often threaded through a pulley) to create a cooling breeze.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong những ngôi nhà cổ ở miền Nam, thường có một chiếc quạt kéo treo trên trần. (In old houses in the Southern region, there is often a punkah hanging from the ceiling.)
  • Người hầu kéo quạt kéo để làm mát cho cả căn phòng. (The servant pulled the punkah to cool the entire room.)

Advanced Usage

• This word specifically refers to the historical, non-electric fan system. It evokes a specific time period (e.g., colonial era, pre-electricity) and setting (e.g., old villas, communal halls).
• It is a compound noun where "quạt" means and "kéo" means , directly describing its method of operation.

Variants and Related Words

• Punkah: The direct English loanword used historically.
• Panka / Panca: Alternative historical spellings found in French and other colonial contexts.
• Quạt trần: . This is the modern electric equivalent and is not a synonym for "quạt kéo," which is strictly manual.
• Quạt máy: .

Synonyms

• Manual ceiling fan: A descriptive synonym in English.
• Punkah fan: The full term in English.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• Kéo quạt kéo: . This is the standard verb phrase associated with its use.
  • Công việc của anh ta là kéo quạt kéo suốt buổi họp. (His job was to operate the punkah throughout the meeting.)

1. Punkah