Definition

1. Noun:

   • Umbrella: A portable device consisting of a circular canopy of cloth on a folding metal frame, used for protection against rain or sun.
   • Compartment / Square / Box: A small, enclosed section or a square division within a larger structure or on a surface, such as in a table, wardrobe, or on paper.
   • Betel box: A small box, traditionally made of brass or copper, used to hold betel leaves and areca nuts for chewing.

2. Noun (historical/archaic):

   • City gate: An abbreviation of "cửa ô," referring to the historic gates of a citadel or city.
   • The sun / a crow: In classical literature, used to refer to the sun (based on ancient allusion) or a crow.

3. Adjective:

   • Black (crow-black): Describing a dark black color, like the feathers of a crow (e.g., black horse, black chicken).

4. Interjection:

   • Oh!: An exclamation expressing surprise, wonder, or sudden emotion.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Umbrella):
  • Trời mưa, bạn nhớ mang theo ô. (It's raining, remember to bring an umbrella.)
• Noun (Compartment):
  • Cô ấy xếp áo vào ô tủ. (She folded the shirts into the wardrobe compartment.)
  • Em bé tập viết trên giấy kẻ ô. (The child practices writing on squared paper.)
• Noun (Betel box):
  • Chiếc ô trầu bằng đồng rất cổ. (The brass betel box is very antique.)
• Noun (City gate):
  • Khu vực Ô Cầu Giấy ngày xưa là một cửa ô của Hà Nội. (The Cau Giay Ô area was once a city gate of Hanoi.)
• Adjective:
  • Con ngựa ô đang phi rất nhanh. (The black horse is galloping very fast.)
• Interjection:
  • Ô! Bất ngờ quá! (Oh! What a surprise!)

Advanced Usage

• "Ô dù": A common compound meaning "umbrella," emphasizing the rain-protection function.

  • Ô dù của tôi bị gãy rồi. (My umbrella is broken.)

• Figurative use (Slang): "Ô" can colloquially refer to a patron or protector in a position of power.

  • Anh ta làm được vậy vì có ô lớn. (He managed to do that because he has a big patron.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cửa ô (n): City gate. The full term from which the standalone "ô" is sometimes abbreviated.
• Ô vuông (n): A square (shape or box on a grid).
• Kẻ ô (v): To draw squares or a grid.

Synonyms

• Umbrella: dù (common synonym for rain umbrella), lọng (parasol).
• Compartment: ngăn, khoang.
• Square: hình vuông, caro (for checkered pattern).

Related Idioms

• Ông ăn chả, bà ăn nem: A Vietnamese idiom sometimes humorously linked to "ô" via the interjection, but not directly related to the core meanings. It means "each to their own preference" (literally: The gentleman eats grilled meat, the lady eats fried meat).

• Đen như ô: As black as a crow (using the adjectival sense). This describes something very black.

  • Mái tóc đen như ô. (Hair as black as a crow.)

noun

1. suburd
   • ô cầu giấy
     caugiay suburb

noun

1. betel and areca-nut box. umbrella. square
   • giấy kẻ ô
     squared paper. compartment
   • ô tủ
     a wardrobe compartments