Definition

1. Noun (Botany):

   • Citronella / Lemongrass: A type of aromatic grass (genus Cymbopogon) with long, narrow leaves, widely used in Southeast Asian cuisine for its lemony flavor and in traditional medicine.

2. Noun (Zoology, archaic):

   • Kingfisher: A type of bird (family Alcedinidae), specifically a kind of kingfisher, known for hunting fish.

3. Verb:

   • To chop / to cut / to cleave: To strike or cut something forcefully with a blade, typically resulting in a deep cut or separation into pieces.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Botany):
  • Thêm một vài cây sả vào nồi nước dùng để tăng hương vị. (Add a few stalks of lemongrass to the broth to enhance the flavor.)
• Noun (Zoology):
  • Một con sả bay lướt trên mặt nước để rình bắt cá. (A kingfisher glided over the water's surface, waiting to catch fish.)
• Verb:
  • Sả con lợn ra để bán. (Cut the pig into pieces for sale.)
  • Lưỡi gươm chém phập, sả vào vai người tướng giặc. (The sword blade swung down and cleaved into the enemy general's shoulder.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb "sả" often implies a single, powerful, and decisive cutting action, more forceful than general verbs like "cắt" (to cut). It is commonly used in contexts involving butchery or combat.

Variants and Related Words

• Cây sả (n): Lemongrass plant.
  • Cây sả trồng trong vườn rất thơm. (The lemongrass plant growing in the garden is very fragrant.)
• Sả cánh (v, literary): To cleave the wings (a poetic or descriptive term for a powerful strike).

Synonyms

• Noun: Lemongrass, citronella.
• Verb: To chop, to cleave, to hack, to split, to cut apart.

Related Idioms

• Chém sả: To chop/cleave forcefully. This phrase emphasizes the violent, striking action of the verb.
  • Hắn chém sả nhát đao cuối cùng. (He delivered the final, forceful chop of his blade.)

noun

1. citronella

verb

1. to cut into pieces
   • sả con lợn ra để bán
     to cut the pig into pieces for sale