kính lão đắc thọ
Vietnamese
Etymology
Sino-Vietnamese word from 敬老 (“to respect the elderly”), 得 (“to gain”) and 壽 (“long life”)
Pronunciation
- (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [kïŋ˧˦ laːw˦ˀ˥ ʔɗak̚˧˦ tʰɔ˧˨ʔ]
- (Huế) IPA(key): [kɨn˦˧˥ laːw˧˨ ʔɗak̚˦˧˥ tʰɔ˨˩ʔ]
- (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA(key): [kɨn˦˥ laːw˨˩˦ ʔɗak̚˦˥ tʰɔ˨˩˨]
Phrase
kính lão đắc thọ
- (literally) if you respect the elderly, you'll extend your lifespan
- (figuratively) it's always a good idea to respect the elderly