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khóa
/kʰwaː˧˦/
lock
Tôi quên khóa nhà.
I forgot the house key.
general
A device used to secure something, typically a door or a container, by means of a key or combination.
Cần khóa cửa trước khi đi.
You need to lock the door before leaving.
Can also refer to a key in some contexts.
general
A key used to open a lock.
Anh ấy mất khóa ô tô.
He lost the car key.
In Vietnamese, 'khóa' can mean both the lock and the key.
Engineering
technical
A mechanism that prevents movement or operation, such as a safety lock on a firearm.
Khóa an toàn của súng này rất quan trọng.
The safety lock on this gun is very important.
Used in technical contexts to describe locking mechanisms.
Collocations
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning of 'khóa' as 'lock' or 'key' depends on the context. For example, 'khóa cửa' means 'door lock,' while 'khóa ô tô' means 'car key.'
Gold Rule
Lock vs. Key
In Vietnamese, 'khóa' can mean both the lock and the key. Pay attention to the context to determine the correct meaning.
Word Origin
From Sino-Vietnamese 'khóa' (鎖), meaning 'lock' or 'key'.
Usage Notes
'Khóa' can refer to both the lock and the key in Vietnamese. The context usually clarifies the meaning.
Word Breakdown
khóa
lock or key
rootTừ Điển Việt Anh