kiếm khách

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 劍客, composed of 劍 (“sword”) and 客 (“guest; visitor; traveler”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [kiəm˧˦ xajk̟̚˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [kiəm˦˧˥ kʰat̚˦˧˥] ~ [kiəm˦˧˥ xat̚˦˧˥]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [kim˦˥ kʰat̚˦˥] ~ [kim˦˥ xat̚˦˥]

Noun

(classifier vị) kiếm khách

1. a wandering master swordsman; compare tay kiếm/kiếm sĩ (a swordsman, master or not, wandering or not)

See also

• hiệp khách (“chivalrous martial artist”)
• lãng khách (“wandering martial artist”)
• thích khách (“assassin”)