Definition

1. Noun:

   • Ribs (cut of meat): The primary culinary meaning refers to a specific cut of pork or beef from the rib section, typically including the bones and adjacent meat. It is a common, economical cut.
   • Flank / Side: In a broader, non-culinary sense, it can refer to the side or flank area of an object or structure.

2. Noun (technical, nautical):

   • Frame / Rib (of a ship): In shipbuilding, a "rẻ sườn" is a transverse frame or rib that forms part of the hull's skeleton, providing structural shape and strength.

Usage Examples

• Noun (culinary):

  • Mẹ tôi mua rẻ sườn để kho. (My mother bought pork ribs to braise.)
  • Món sườn nướng này làm từ rẻ sườn bò. (This grilled rib dish is made from beef ribs.)

• Noun (technical):

  • Các rẻ sườn của con tàu được đóng chắc chắn. (The ship's frames are built solidly.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in markets and cooking contexts. It implies a cut that is less premium than the loin or tenderloin, hence its association with value and everyday cooking.

Variants and Related Words

• Sườn: A more general term for "ribs" or "side," which can refer to anatomy, meat cuts, or the side of an object. "Rẻ sườn" is a specific instance of "sườn."
• Sườn non: Pork spare ribs, a specific, meatier cut from the rib area.

Synonyms

• Ribs (for meat): A cut of meat from the rib section.
• Frame / Rib (for shipbuilding): A structural component in a vessel's hull.

Notes on Usage

• "Rẻ sườn" is a compound noun. The word "rẻ" here relates to being "spread out" or "sectioned," not to the adjective "rẻ" meaning "cheap." However, the cut is traditionally inexpensive.
• In everyday modern Vietnamese, especially in culinary contexts, the simpler term "sườn" is very frequently used interchangeably for the meat cut. "Rẻ sườn" specifies the particular cut from the rib plate.