nhân chưng

Vietnamese

Etymology

nhân (因) +‎ chưng.

The word is technically not attested in the Latin script when it was still in use, however, as both of its elements are attested, the reading *nhân chưng is commonly seen in romanization of Nôm poems.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ɲən˧˧ t͡ɕɨŋ˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ɲəŋ˧˧ t͡ɕɨŋ˧˧]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ɲəŋ˧˧ cɨŋ˧˧]

Conjunction

nhân chưng • (因蒸)

1. (obsolete) why; because
   • 15th century, Nguyễn Trãi, “猫 Miêu”, in Quốc âm thi tập (國音詩集):

     庫免𢀨庄女負
     因蒸恨𤝞沛挼眉

     Khó miễn sang chăng nỡ phụ,
     Nhân chưng giận chuột phải nuôi mày.

     Poor or rich, be ungrateful, we dare not,
     So why, would you be resentful to the mice that raised you?