Xích

Xích is a Vietnamese word whose primary sense is a chain or chain link. It refers to a length of metal links joined together to form a flexible length used for securing, binding, or restraining objects, animals, or equipment. In everyday language as well as in technical contexts, xích denotes the component itself rather than a whole chain assembly, and it appears in phrases describing chain-related parts or mechanisms, such as bicycle chains or drive systems.

The term xích also appears in Sino-Vietnamese vocabulary linked to the Chinese character 赤, meaning red. In compound words drawn from Chinese, such as xích đạo, the component xích is part of a term whose meaning is not about chains but about the concept expressed by the associated character. Xích đạo, for example, is the Vietnamese term for the equator (赤道).

In historical or literary contexts, xích can function as a verb meaning to chain up or fetter someone, and it may be found in formal or archaic writings describing restraint or captivity. While today the noun sense of xích as a physical chain is the most common usage, the word also carries these additional historical and lexical associations depending on context.

Overall, xích is a versatile term in Vietnamese with a primary mechanical meaning and several related or historical usages in vocabulary and literature. See also chain, 연결, and 赤道 for related linguistic connections across languages.