Definition

1. Noun:

   • Star: A celestial body visible as a point of light in the night sky.
   • Star (figurative): A symbol, decoration, or insignia shaped like a star; also, a famous or exceptionally talented person (e.g., a movie star, sports star).
   • Oil slick / globule: A spot or film of oil or fat floating on the surface of a liquid, such as soup.
   • Spot (on an animal): A white spot or dappling on the fur or feathers of certain animals.

2. Verb:

   • To copy, to duplicate: To reproduce or transcribe something exactly from an original.
   • To dry-roast, to pan-fry: To stir and dry something, typically herbs, tea, or medicine, in a hot pan without oil to dehydrate or prepare it.

3. Interrogative Adverb:

   • Why, how, what for: Used to ask for a reason or cause.
   • How, what: Used to ask about manner, state, or condition.

4. Exclamatory Adverb:

   • How, so, what a: Used to express surprise, emphasis, or strong feeling about a quality or state.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Celestial Star):
  • Bầu trời đêm nay đầy sao. (The sky is full of stars tonight.)
• Noun (Figurative Star):
  • Anh ấy là ngôi sao nhạc rock. (He is a rock star.)
• Verb (To copy):
  • Tôi cần sao lại tài liệu này. (I need to copy this document.)
• Verb (To dry-roast):
  • Sao vàng hạt đậu xanh trước khi nấu. (Dry-roast the mung beans until golden before cooking.)
• Interrogative Adverb (Why):
  • Sao bạn đến muộn? (Why are you late?)
• Interrogative Adverb (How/What):
  • Mọi chuyện sao rồi? (How is everything?)
• Exclamatory Adverb:
  • Bộ phim hay sao! (The movie is so good!)

Advanced Usage

• "sao y bản chính": A certified true copy; a copy verified to be identical to the original.
  • Vui lòng cung cấp bản sao y bản chính. (Please provide a certified true copy.)
• "sao chép": To copy, to replicate (often used for digital data or behavior).
  • Không được sao chép bài của bạn. (Do not copy your friend's homework.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngôi sao (n): A star (celestial or famous person). This is a more specific noun form.
  • Ngôi sao sân khấu. (A stage star.)
• Sao chổi (n): Comet (literally "star with hair").
  • Sao chổi xuất hiện trên bầu trời. (A comet appeared in the sky.)
• Sao Kim (n): Venus (the planet).
  • Sao Kim là hành tinh sáng nhất. (Venus is the brightest planet.)

Synonyms

• Star: celestial body.
• To copy: to duplicate, to transcribe.
• To roast: to toast, to parch (for the cooking sense).
• Why: for what reason, how come.
• How: in what way.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Vật đổi sao dời: (Things change, stars shift) – Signifying the great vicissitudes and changes of life or time.
  • Hai mươi năm, vật đổi sao dời. (Twenty years, everything has changed.)
• Tam sao thất bản: (Three copies, seven losses) – Meaning that through repeated copying or retelling, the original message or content becomes distorted or lost.
  • Câu chuyện đó đã tam sao thất bản. (That story has been distorted through retelling.)
• Sao băng / Sao băng (n): Shooting star, meteor.
  • Tôi ước khi thấy sao băng. (I made a wish when I saw a shooting star.)

noun

1. star
   • Bầu trời đêm nay đầy sao
     This starry sky of the night
   • ngôi sao sân cỏ
     a star player, a football star to copy, to duplicate to dry in a pan, to dehydrat why, how, what