ngài

See also: ngai, Ngai, ngáí, ngãi, and ngại

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ŋaːj˨˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ŋaːj˦˩]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ŋaːj˨˩]

Etymology 1

From Proto-Vietic *ŋaːj, from Proto-Mon-Khmer *[m]ŋaaj (“human being; person”). Cognate with Muong ngài.

Noun

ngài • (𠊚, 𠊛, 𠏥)

1. (North Central Vietnam) human

Related terms

• người; ngươi

Pronoun

ngài • (𠊚, 𠊛,𠊎,𠏥)

1. (highly formal, respectful) you
2. (highly formal, respectful) he, him
3. (highly formal, respectful, rare) she, her

Usage notes

• In modern Vietnamese, only reserved for those that are deemed to be of utmost importance (i.e. head of corporations, royalties or heads of state).
• The term can, but rarely, be applied to female figures in 3rd person.

Etymology 2

From Old Chinese 蛾 (OC *ŋˤaj) (B-S) (SV: nga).

Noun

(classifier con) ngài • (𧍋)

1. moth

   Synonym: bướm đêm

See also

• bướm; bươm bướm
• tằm

Anagrams

• giàn