Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large, whole leaf (especially of certain plants): Refers to the entire, often large and broad, leaf of specific plants, commonly used in cooking or as natural wrapping.
   • A frond (of a palm or similar plant): Specifically describes the large, divided leaf of plants like betel palm or coconut palm.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Người ta dùng tàu lá chuối để gói bánh. (People use banana leaves to wrap cakes.)
  • Tàu lá dừa rơi xuống sân. (The coconut frond fell into the yard.)
  • Cô ấy hái một tàu lá sen rất to. (She picked a very large lotus leaf.)

Advanced Usage

• "tàu lá dừa": coconut frond.

  • Mái lợp bằng tàu lá dừa rất mát. (A roof thatched with coconut fronds is very cool.)

• "tàu lá chuối": banana leaf.

  • Bánh chưng được gói trong tàu lá chuối. (Chung cake is wrapped in banana leaves.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lá (n): leaf. A general term for leaf.

  • Lá cây rụng mùa thu. (Tree leaves fall in autumn.)

• Tàu (n): This word can mean "ship" or "train," but in the compound "tàu lá," it specifically contributes to the meaning of a large, elongated structure, like a frond.

Synonyms

• Frond: A large, divided leaf, especially of a palm or fern.
• Large leaf: A big, broad leaf.

Related Idioms

• Không phải tàu lá chuối: Literally "not a banana leaf," meaning something is not simple or easy to handle; it's not a trivial matter.
  • Việc này phức tạp, không phải tàu lá chuối đâu. (This matter is complicated, it's no simple thing.)