quả hạch
Definition
- Noun (Botany):
- A drupe: A type of simple, fleshy fruit that typically has a thin outer skin (exocarp), a fleshy middle layer (mesocarp), and a hard, stone-like inner layer (endocarp) that encloses a single seed. This is the precise scientific term for fruits like peaches, plums, cherries, and olives.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Đào, mận và anh đào đều là các loại quả hạch. (Peaches, plums, and cherries are all types of drupes.)
- Hạt của quả hạch được bảo vệ bên trong một hạt cứng. (The seed of a drupe is protected inside a hard pit.)
Advanced Usage
- In botanical classification, the term "drupe" is used to categorize fruits based on their specific structure. The hard "stone" or "pit" is a defining characteristic.
Variants and Related Words
- Hạch (noun): This word alone can refer to a node, gland (as in lymph node), or the stone/pit of a fruit. In the compound "quả hạch," it specifically refers to the stone-like part.
- Quả hạch cứng (noun phrase): A hard-shelled nut (like a walnut or hazelnut). Note: While sometimes confused, true botanical nuts are a different category from drupes, though some drupes have edible "nuts" inside their pits (e.g., almonds).
Synonyms
- Drupe: The direct English botanical equivalent.
- Stone fruit: A common culinary and agricultural term for edible drupes.
Notes on Meaning
- Important Distinction: In everyday Vietnamese, "quả hạch" is often understood as "stone fruit." However, in precise botanical context, it translates specifically to "drupe." The related term "quả hạch cứng" refers to "nuts" in a botanical or culinary sense, which are different from drupes.