châu

See also: Appendix:Variations of "chau"

Hokkien

For pronunciation and definitions of châu – see 巢 (“nest; lair; den; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 巢).

For pronunciation and definitions of châu – see 勦. (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 勦).

For pronunciation and definitions of châu – see 剿 (“to destroy; to exterminate; to annihilate”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 剿).

For pronunciation and definitions of châu – see 齊 (“even; uniform; of equal length; same; identical; etc.”). (This term is the pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 齊).

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕəw˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕəw˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [cəw˧˧]

Etymology 1

Sino-Vietnamese word from 洲 (“continent”).

Noun

châu

1. Clipping of châu lục (“geopolitical continent”).
2. the same as châu lục, minus Antarctica

   năm châu bốn bể

   the five (geopolitical) continents and the four oceans

Derived terms

• Á Châu (亞洲, “Asia”), Á châu (“Asia”)
• Âu châu (歐洲, “Europe”)
• châu Á (洲亞, “Asia”)
• châu Âu (洲歐, “Europe”)
• Châu Đại Dương (洲大洋, “Oceania”)
• châu lục (洲陸, “continent”)
• châu Mĩ (洲美, “the Americas”), Châu Mỹ (洲美, “the Americas”)
• châu Phi (洲非, “Africa”)
• châu thổ (洲土, “river delta”)
• Châu Úc (洲澳, “Australia”)
• chó hoang châu Phi (𤝹荒洲非, “African Hunting Dog”)
• Mĩ châu (美洲, “the Americas”)
• Phi châu (非洲, “Africa”)
• Úc Châu (澳洲, “Australia”)

 

Etymology 2

Sino-Vietnamese word from 州 (“a type of historical political divisions”).

Noun

châu

1. (history) a province in ancient China

   Giao Châu là một châu của Trung Quốc thời Bắc thuộc.

   Jiaozhou (region) was a province under Chinese government.

Derived terms

• Lai Châu (萊州, “Lai Châu”)
• Quảng Châu (廣州, “Guangzhou”)
• tri châu (知州, “provincial prefect”)
• Triều Châu (潮州, “Chaozhou”)
• Tuyền Châu (泉州, “Quanzhou”)

 

Etymology 3

Sino-Vietnamese word from 珠 (“bead/pearl”).

Noun

châu

1. a round ornament (especially for a Christmas tree)
2. (only in compounds) precious stone, gem, jewel, pearl
3. (figurative) teardrops

Derived terms

• châu báu (珠寶, “treasure”)
• hoả châu (火珠, “flare”)
• trân châu (珍珠, “pearl”)

 

Etymology 4

Sino-Vietnamese word from 週 (“to circle”).

Verb

châu

1. to huddle together; to circle around; to assemble

Derived terms

• lỗ châu mai (“embrasure”)