đồng bạch
Definition
- Noun:
- Nickel silver / German silver: A silvery-white alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel, which does not actually contain silver. It is used to make various household items, cutlery, and decorative objects due to its appearance and resistance to tarnish.
- A type of coin: Historically, this term can refer to coins made from this alloy or other white metal compositions.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Bà tôi còn giữ một bộ thìa nĩa bằng đồng bạch. (My grandmother still keeps a set of cutlery made from nickel silver.)
- Đồng bạch thường được dùng để chế tạo đồ trang trí. (Nickel silver is often used to make decorative items.)
- Những đồng xu cổ này được đúc từ đồng bạch. (These old coins were minted from a white metal alloy.)
Advanced Usage
- As a material term, "đồng bạch" is specific to metallurgy and antique collecting. It is less common in everyday modern conversation, except when describing historical or vintage objects.
Variants and Related Words
- Hợp kim (n): alloy. A broader term for any metallic mixture.
- Đồng (n): copper. A primary component of nickel silver.
- Bạc (n): silver. Note that "đồng bạch" contains no real silver, but its name references a silvery color.
Synonyms
- Nickel silver: The most direct technical synonym.
- German silver: Another common name for the same alloy.
- White copper: A descriptive term used in some contexts.
Notes on Usage
- The term "đồng bạch" is now somewhat archaic. In contemporary contexts, the specific alloy name "nickel silver" or the Vietnamese phrase "hợp kim niken-bạc" (nickel-silver alloy) may be used for clarity.
- It is important to distinguish it from real silver ("bạc nguyên chất"). Items made from "đồng bạch" are typically less valuable.