lầm than

Vietnamese

Etymology

lầm (“mud (obsolete)”) +‎ than (“coal”), calque of Chinese 塗炭／涂炭 (đồ thán).

Pronunciation

(Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ləm˨˩ tʰaːn˧˧]
(Huế) IPA^(key): [ləm˦˩ tʰaːŋ˧˧]
(Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ləm˨˩ tʰaːŋ˧˧]

Adjective

miserable, wretched
- 1944, “Tiến quân ca”, Văn Cao (lyrics), Văn Cao (music):
  Đoàn quân Việt Nam đi, sao vàng phấp phới
  Dắt giống nòi quê hương qua nơi lầm than
  Soldiers of Vietnam, marching onward
  The golden star fluttering.
  Leading the people of our native land,
  out of misery and suffering.

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