Definition

Noun: 1. A Chinese dice game: A gambling game of chance using three dice, popular in casinos and informal settings. The name itself is derived from the Chinese terms for "big" (tài) and "small" (xỉu), which are the main betting options. 2. The specific bet "big" or "small" in this game: Refers directly to one of the two primary wagers in the game, predicting whether the total sum of the three dice will be "big" (tài, from 11 to 17, excluding triples) or "small" (xỉu, from 4 to 10, excluding triples).

Usage Examples

• As the name of the game:
  • Trong sòng bạc, anh ấy thường chơi tài xỉu. (In the casino, he often plays Sic Bo.)
  • Tài xỉu là trò chơi may rủi phổ biến. (Sic Bo is a popular game of chance.)
• Referring to a bet:
  • Lần này tôi đặt cửa tài. (This time I bet on big.)
  • Anh ta thua vì cứ đặt xỉu liên tục. (He lost because he kept betting on small continuously.)

Advanced Usage

• "Xóc tài xỉu": This is the action of shaking the dice cup or the dice tower in the game.
  • Người chia bài đang xóc tài xỉu. (The dealer is shaking the dice.)
• The game's full mechanics involve betting on various outcomes beyond just "big" or "small," such as specific triple numbers, specific double numbers, or the exact total sum.

Variants and Related Words

• Sic Bo: The common English/Cantonese name for the same dice game. This is the standard term used in international casinos.
• Cò quay (Roulette), bài cào (Three-card poker): Other popular casino games, distinct from .
• Xúc xắc: Dice. This is the object used to play .

Synonyms

• Trò chơi xúc xắc: Dice game (a general term).
• Sic Bo: The direct equivalent term in English.

Notes on Meaning

• The word tài xỉu is almost exclusively used to refer to this specific gambling game. It is not used in general contexts.
• In everyday Vietnamese outside of gambling contexts, tài can mean "talented" or "wealthy," and xỉu can colloquially mean "to faint." However, when combined as tài xỉu, it solely refers to the dice game.

noun

1. Chinese dice