san

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The Vietnamese word "san" is quite versatile and can have a few different meanings based on its context. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand and use it effectively.

Definition:

1. To level or balance: "San" often means to make something even or to balance it out. This can apply to physical objects, like leveling the surface of a road or balancing weights.

Usage Instructions:

• "San" is often used with other words to describe the action of making something level or equal. It is important to pair it with the right nouns to convey your message clearly.

Examples:

1. San đá trên mặt đường: This means "to level the macadam on a road," indicating the action of making the road surface smooth and even.
2. San hai thúng gạo cho cân gánh: This translates to "to even the two baskets of rice of a load," which means adjusting the weights of the baskets so they are balanced.
3. San bát canh: This means "to put the excess soup of a bowl into another," referring to the act of distributing or balancing the contents of bowls.

Advanced Usage:

• In more advanced contexts, "san" can be used metaphorically to describe balancing ideas, opinions, or arguments. For example, you might say, "Tôi cần san các ý kiến khác nhau để có quyết định chính xác," which means "I need to balance different opinions to make an accurate decision."

Word Variants:

• "San" can sometimes appear in compounds or phrases that give it a slightly different nuance. One phonetic variant is sơn, which means "mountain" when used in compounds. However, this is a different word with a separate meaning.

Different Meanings:

• Although "san" primarily focuses on leveling or balancing, context can slightly alter its meaning. It can imply adjusting or redistributing more generally, beyond just physical objects.

Synonyms:

• Some synonyms or similar words include:
  • Cân: means "to weigh" or "to balance."
  • Bằng: means "even" or "flat."

Summary:

"San" is a useful word in Vietnamese, especially when discussing balance or evenness in various contexts.

Academic

1. (ít dùng) Revise
   • Khổng Tử san Kinh Thi
     Confucius revised the Book of Poetry
2. Level
   • San đá trên mặt đường
     To level the macadam on a road
   • San hai thúng gạo cho cân gánh
     To even the two baskets of rice of a load to balance it
   • San bát canh
     To put the excess soup of a bowl into another.
3. (phonetic variant of sơn in compounds) Mountain