già giặn

Vietnamese

Alternative forms

  • (North Central Vietnam) tra trắn
  • (more common, unetymological) già dặn

Etymology

-ăn reduplication of già.

The spelling già dặn is probably also contaminated by other -ăn reduplicatives such as dày dặn (“thick; seasoned, veteran”).

Pronunciation

  • (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [zaː˨˩ zan˧˨ʔ]
  • (Huế) IPA(key): [jaː˦˩ jaŋ˨˩ʔ]
  • (Saigon) IPA(key): [jaː˨˩ jaŋ˨˩˨]

Adjective

già giặn

  1. old and wise; experienced; mature
    • 2001, Chu Lai, Cuộc đời dài lắm, NXB Văn học, page 212:
      […] chưa bao giờ cô chạm phải một cái nhìn vừa già dặn, vừa ngây thơ, vừa trách cứ, lại vừa tò mò, thấu hiểu như thế.
      […] never before had she laid eyes on a gaze at the same time so mature and childish, accusing but still curious and understanding.
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