Where does “nào ngờ” come from?
nào ngờ (Vietnamese) comes from Vietnamese não, from Chinese 腦, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan s-nəw-k — brain.
nào ngờ (Vietnamese): but contrary to expectations; unexpectedly
Definitions
- but contrary to expectations; unexpectedly
Ancestry of “nào ngờ”, step by step
nào ngờ traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Vietnamese não
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vietnamese | não | brain, cerebrum |
| 2 | Chinese | 腦 | — |
| 3 | Proto-Sino-Tibetan | s-nəw-k | brain |
via Vietnamese ngờ
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vietnamese | ngờ | to doubt; to suspect; to be suspicious; to... |