Definition

1. Noun:
   • Tortoise shell: Specifically refers to the hard, bony shell of a tortoise, particularly the plastron (the ventral/bottom part). In traditional contexts, it is a material used for making glue or medicinal preparations.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Cao quy bản là một vị thuốc quý trong Đông y. (Tortoise shell glue is a precious medicine in traditional Eastern medicine.)
  • Người xưa dùng quy bản để bói toán. (Ancient people used tortoise shells for divination.)

Advanced Usage

• "Cao quy bản": This is a specific compound term meaning "tortoise shell glue," a gelatinous substance extracted by boiling the shell, used in traditional medicine and cuisine.
  • Món ăn này có thêm cao quy bản để tăng chất dinh dưỡng. (This dish has added tortoise shell glue to increase its nutritional value.)

Variants and Related Words

• Mai rùa: A more general term for "tortoise shell" or "carapace," which can refer to the entire shell, not specifically the plastron.
• Yếm rùa: A colloquial term for the plastron (the bottom part of the shell).

Synonyms

• Plastron (English): The specific anatomical term for the ventral part of a tortoise or turtle's shell.
• Tortoise plastron: A more precise English equivalent.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary meaning of "quy bản" is material and zoological, referring to the physical shell of a tortoise. Its usage is almost exclusively found in traditional contexts such as medicine ("Đông y"), divination, or historical references. It does not have modern metaphorical meanings.

1. Tortoise's shell