to gan lớn mật

Vietnamese

Etymology

to (“big”) +‎ gan (“liver”) +‎ lớn (“big”) +‎ mật (“gall bladder”). Perhaps calqued from the Chinese-derived can đảm (literally “liver and gallbladder”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [tɔ˧˧ ɣaːn˧˧ ləːn˧˦ mət̚˧˨ʔ]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [tɔ˧˧ ɣaːŋ˧˧ ləːŋ˦˧˥ mək̚˨˩ʔ]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [tɔ˧˧ ɣaːŋ˧˧ ləːŋ˦˥ mək̚˨˩˨]

Adjective

to gan lớn mật

1. (literal) with a big liver and a big gallbladder
2. (figurative) very audacious

   Synonyms: to gan, lớn mật