Đũa: Vì sao tiếng Trung dùng từ “筷”, còn tiếng Việt dùng từ “箸”?

Abstract

The history of the word "chopsticks" or "trợ/trứ 箸", in Vietnamese, Sino - Vietnamese, and especially Southern Chinese dialects, has shown a very long process of the cultural exchange. After regaining independence, the Vietnamese language has been separated from the Chinese languages system; however, it has still preserved ancient words since the pre-Qin dynasty during the exchange period such as “kẹp” (*ke:b>giáp), “đũa” (*ȡʱi wo>trứ/trợ). Chinese characters still retain the images (hieroglyphics) through the ancient carvings/drawings. It has proved that the Vietnamese and the Chinese languages have been exchanged since the dawn of the languages. Before the XIV and XV centuries, the word "trợ/trứ and trụ/trú" in the Chinese language of the Wuzhong people were pronounced similarly. Then, because of the naming taboo issue, the allophones đũa/trợ/trú 箸 were replaced by the word "khoái 筷" (reprensent for happiness and luck), which has positive meanings for seafarers – compared to the sound trú/trụ (zhù in pinyin) meaning stop, stay. Gradually, the word "khoái" of the Wuzhong dialect has been used by the entire Chinese people. Meanwhile, in Vietnam without being influenced by the naming taboo issue, people still use đũa, old sound for the character "箸".