xuể

Vietnamese

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [swe˧˩]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [swej˧˨]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [s⁽ʷ⁾ej˨˩˦]

Adverb

xuể

1. Placed after a verb or after a negator in a negative sentence to indicate the inability to carry out something.

   Nhiều bát đĩa quá, tôi không rửa xuể.

   There are too many dishes, I can't clean them all.

   Cổ thụ mấy trăm năm tuổi, ba người ôm chẳng xuể.

   It is a tree hundreds of years old, not even the arm spans of three can completely surround it.