Where does “ngậm ngùi” come from?
ngậm ngùi (Vietnamese) comes from Vietnamese ngậm, from Proto-Vietic ŋəmʔ.
ngậm ngùi (Vietnamese): to be grieved; to feel sorry; to pity
Definitions
- to be grieved; to feel sorry; to pity
Ancestry of “ngậm ngùi”, step by step
ngậm ngùi traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Vietnamese ngậm
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vietnamese | ngậm | to hold inside one's mouth |
| 2 | Proto-Vietic | ŋəmʔ | — |
via Vietnamese ngùi
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vietnamese | ngùi | sad (to the point of tears); melancholy |