ớt chỉ thiên
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of chili pepper: "Ớt chỉ thiên" is a specific variety of chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) characterized by its small, slender, and very pointed fruit. The defining feature is that the ripe chilies grow pointing upwards, towards the sky.
- Bird's eye chili: It is often equated with or considered very similar to the bird's eye chili, known for its high level of spiciness.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Ớt chỉ thiên thường rất cay. (Ớt chỉ thiên is usually very spicy.)
- Mẹ tôi trồng một bụi ớt chỉ thiên trong vườn. (My mother grows a bush of ớt chỉ thiên in the garden.)
- Món ăn này cần một quả ớt chỉ thiên để tăng vị. (This dish needs one ớt chỉ thiên to enhance the flavor.)
Advanced Usage
- The name "chỉ thiên" (pointing to heaven/sky) is descriptive and directly refers to the upward-growing direction of the fruit on the plant, which distinguishes it from varieties where fruits hang down.
Variants and Related Words
- Ớt (n): The general term for chili pepper.
- Ớt hiểm (n): Another common Vietnamese name for a similar small, very hot chili, often used interchangeably with "ớt chỉ thiên".
- Bird's eye chili (n): The common English name for this type of small, pointed, and very spicy chili.
Synonyms
- Bird's eye chili
- Thai chili (Note: While similar, Thai chilies may be a closely related variety.)
Related Terms
- Capsicum annuum: The botanical species name for most common chili peppers, including "ớt chỉ thiên".
- Scoville Heat Units (SHU): The measurement scale for the spiciness (pungency) of chili peppers. "Ớt chỉ thiên" has a high SHU rating.