Etymology

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *b-ras ‎(“rice; fruit; bear fruit; round object”). Compare Proto-Austronesian *bəʀas ‎(“rice”) (Malay beras).

Pronunciation

• Old Tibetan:
  • IPA^(key): /*ᵐbras/ (reconstructed)
• Ü-Tsang
  • Tibetan Pinyin: zhae^w
  • (Lhasa) IPA^(key): /ʈ͡ʂɛː˩˧˨/
• Khams
  • (Batang) IPA^(key): /nɖ͡ʐɛ˥˥/
  • (Dêgê) IPA^(key): /nɖ͡ʐe˩˧/
• Amdo
  • (Zêkog) IPA^(key): /nɖ͡ʐi/
  • (Bla-Brang) IPA^(key): /nɖ͡ʐe/