bổ

See also: Appendix:Variations of "bo"

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ʔɓo˧˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʔɓow˧˨]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ʔɓow˨˩˦]

Etymology 1

From Proto-Mon-Khmer *buuh. Cognate with Khmer ពុះ (puh).

Verb

bổ

1. to split firewood by the axis of each log

   bổ củi ― to split firewood

2. to chop a piece of fruit, especially a large one, by its axis to divide it into smaller pieces for consumption

   bổ dưa ― to chop a watermelon

3. (North Central Vietnam) to trip and fall onto the ground

   Synonyms: ngã, té

Adverb

bổ

1. (of falling) quickly and heavily to the ground

Etymology 2

Sino-Vietnamese word from 補 (“to supplement”).

Adjective

bổ

1. (of food, drink or nutritional supplements, compatible with following Sino-Vietnamese elements) healthy; wholesome

   thuốc bổ ― a nutritional supplement

   bổ phổi/phế ― good for one's lungs

   bổ máu/huyết ― good for one's blood

   (of activities) vô bổ ― unhelpful; unproductive

Etymology 3

See vỗ. This is a form that did not undergo lenition.

Alternative forms

• bỗ

Verb

bổ

1. (obsolete) Southern Vietnam form of vỗ
   • 1895, Huình Tịnh Của, Đại Nam Quấc âm tự vị:

     滇 Xan. n.
      […]
     Sóng ― sóng bổ, sóng đánh.

     滇 Xan. n.
      […]
     Sóng ― the waves hitting the shore.

   • 1909, Nguyễn Liên Phong, “Bà-Rịa”, in Nam Kỳ phong tục nhơn vật diễn ca:

     Làng Phước-hãi, lưới bạc muôn, Ở theo mé biển tuy buồn mà vui.
     Buồn nghe sóng bỗ từ hồi, Vui vì đông đão tới lui chĩnh tề.

     At the village of Phước-hãi, [although] the nets are always silvery [due to the reflection from fishscales], living by the sea has its ups and downs.
     The repetitive sound of the waves hitting the shore brings you down, [but] the constant throngs of people coming and leaving lifts you up.