xe cao su
Definition
- Noun:
- A rickshaw pulled by a person: A two-wheeled passenger vehicle, historically used in Vietnam and other parts of Asia, where a runner pulls the cart by hand. The term "cao su" (rubber) refers to the rubber tires that distinguished this type of rickshaw from earlier models with wooden or iron wheels.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Xe cao su từng là phương tiện phổ biến ở Hà Nội đầu thế kỷ 20. (The rickshaw was once a common means of transport in Hanoi in the early 20th century.)
- Ông ấy kể chuyện làm người kéo xe cao su thời trẻ. (He told stories about being a rickshaw puller in his youth.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "xe cao su" is now considered historical and archaic. It is primarily encountered in historical texts, literature, or discussions about the past.
- It is a specific type of "xe kéo" (pulled vehicle) or "xe tay" (hand vehicle), differentiated by its use of rubber tires.
Variants and Related Words
- Xe kéo (n): A general term for a human-pulled rickshaw.
- Xe tay (n): Another term for a hand-pulled rickshaw.
- Pousse-pousse (n): The French colonial term for a rickshaw, from which the English "rickshaw" is derived.
Synonyms
- Rickshaw
- Pulled rickshaw
- Jinrikisha (from Japanese)
Notes on Usage
- The vehicle referred to by "xe cao su" is not self-propelled and should not be confused with a cycle rickshaw ("xích lô") or a motorized vehicle.
- Its use declined significantly in the mid-20th century.