Usage Note
Garing refers to elephant ivory, historically prized in the Philippines for carvings, religious icons (particularly santo figures), and jewelry. Its trade is now restricted globally. The term also appears in the compound 'garing-garing' to describe an ivory-white color.
Examples
" Gawa sa garing ang suklay. "
Natural Translation
The comb is made of ivory.
Literal Translation
Made in ivory the comb.
" Ang rebulto ng santo ay ginawa sa garing. "
Natural Translation
The saint's statue was made of ivory.
Literal Translation
The statue of-the saint was made in ivory.
" Ipinagbabawal na ngayon ang pagbebenta ng garing dahil ito ay nagmumula sa mga elepanteng pinapatay. "
Natural Translation
The sale of ivory is now prohibited because it comes from elephants that are killed.
Literal Translation
Forbidden already now the selling of ivory because this comes from (plural) elephant being-killed.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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