kính lão đắc thọ

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 敬老得壽, from kính lão (敬老, "to respect the elderly") + đắc (得, "to gain") + thọ (壽, "long life")

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [kïŋ˧˦ laːw˦ˀ˥ ʔɗak̚˧˦ tʰɔ˧˨ʔ]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [kɨn˦˧˥ laːw˧˨ ʔɗak̚˦˧˥ tʰɔ˨˩ʔ]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [kɨn˦˥ laːw˨˩˦ ʔɗak̚˦˥ tʰɔ˨˩˨]

Phrase

kính lão đắc thọ

1. (literal) if you respect the elderly, you'll extend your lifespan
2. (figurative) it's always a good idea to respect the elderly