Save Gender Masculine & Feminine Usage Vietnamese Pronounced Pron. /t͡ɕiəw˧˦/, /t͡ɕiw˨˩˦/, /ciw˦˥/ [key·simplify] Meaning & History From Sino-Vietnamese 照 (chiếu) meaning "to shine, illuminate", 詔 (chiếu) meaning "imperial decree", or 釗 (chiếu) meaning "to encourage".