Definition

1. Noun:

   • A type of fried food: In Vietnamese cuisine, "ram" refers to a specific dish made by wrapping a filling (typically minced meat, mushrooms, and seasonings) in a thin rice paper wrapper and then deep-frying it until crispy.
   • A ream (of paper): A unit for counting paper, traditionally consisting of 500 sheets or 20 quires.

2. Verb:

   • To fry (food): The action of cooking food by submerging it in hot oil. This usage is specific and often relates to the cooking method for the "ram" dish itself.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Food):

  • Mẹ tôi làm món ram thịt rất ngon. (My mother makes delicious minced pork ram.)
  • Nhà hàng này phục vụ ram với nước mắm chua ngọt. (This restaurant serves ram with sweet and sour fish sauce.)

• Noun (Paper):

  • Tôi cần mua một ram giấy A4. (I need to buy one ream of A4 paper.)
  • Một ram giấy in thường có 500 tờ. (A ream of printing paper usually has 500 sheets.)

• Verb:

  • Bạn phải ram nem cho vàng giòn. (You have to fry the spring rolls until they are golden and crispy.)
  • Cá được ram với nước màu và nước dừa. (The fish is fried/stewed with caramel sauce and coconut water.) (Note: In some regional contexts, "ram" as a verb can imply a braising/frying technique.)

Advanced Usage

• "ram khô": This refers to a style of frying where the dish is cooked until the liquid evaporates, resulting in a drier, often caramelized finish.
  • Cá kho thường được ram khô với nước mắm và tiêu. (Braised fish is often cooked down with fish sauce and pepper until the sauce is thick.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nem ram: A common compound term for the fried spring roll dish, especially in Central Vietnam. (This is a related compound, not the target word alone).
• Chả ram: Another regional name for a similar fried roll, often smaller in size.
• Rán: A more general and common verb for "to fry". "Ram" is a more specific culinary term.

Synonyms

• Rán (verb): To fry (more general term).
• Chiên (verb): To fry (common in Southern Vietnam).
• Thếp (noun): A quire (a subunit of a ream, 25 sheets). A stack, bundle.

Related Phrases (Collocations)

• Giấy một ram: One ream of paper.
• Ram thịt: Fried meat roll (specifically with pork).
• Ram tôm: Fried shrimp roll.
• Nồi ram: Frying pot/pan (used for the frying process).

Notes on Meaning

• The primary modern meaning is culinary, referring to the specific fried dish.
• The meaning "ream of paper" is a technical/measurement term and is less common in everyday conversation than the food term.
• The verb form is directly connected to the cooking method for the noun. It is important to distinguish it from the more universal verbs "rán" or "chiên". "Ram" as a verb often implies a specific technique or is used in the context of making the dish "ram".

noun

1. ream (of paper)

verb

1. to fry