Definition

1. Noun:
   • The Ox (Buffalo): The second of the twelve Earthly Branches in the traditional Vietnamese zodiac and calendrical system. It corresponds to the Year of the Ox/Buffalo.
   • The Hour of the Ox: The period of the day corresponding to this branch, from 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM in the traditional timekeeping system.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Bố tôi sinh năm sửu. (My father was born in the Year of the Ox.)
  • Giờ sửu là khoảng thời gian từ 1 đến 3 giờ sáng. (The Hour of the Ox is the period from 1 to 3 AM.)

Advanced Usage

• "tuổi sửu": Refers specifically to a person's zodiac sign being the Ox, or to the year of the Ox itself.
  • Người tuổi sửu thường được cho là chăm chỉ và kiên định. (People born in the Year of the Ox are often considered hardworking and steadfast.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trâu (n): Buffalo/Ox. While "sửu" is the symbolic branch, "trâu" is the common animal name representing it.
  • Trâu là con giáp của năm sửu. (The buffalo is the zodiac animal for the Year of the Ox.)

Synonyms

• The Second Earthly Branch: The formal term for its position in the cycle.
• Year of the Ox/Buffalo: The common Western equivalent for the zodiac year.

Related Cultural Concepts

• Thập nhị chi: The Twelve Earthly Branches, the cyclical system to which "sửu" belongs.

  • "Sửu" là một trong thập nhị chi. ("Sửu" is one of the Twelve Earthly Branches.)

• Can chi: The system of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches used in the traditional calendar.

  • Năm 2021 là năm Tân Sửu theo lịch can chi. (The year 2021 was the Year of the Metal Ox according to the can chi calendar.)