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Vietnamese Grammar Bank
WHAT ARE VIETNAMESE COUNTERS
There are a lot of different counters in Vietnamese. Also called Vietnamese measure words, here are the 5 most popular.
Let’s have a look at them in details.
Do not forget to review the Numbers in Vietnamese here, as it will come in useful in this lesson.
CÁI FOR NON-LIVING THINGS
You will use cái to count the general non-living things such as table, chair, shirt, dress, bowl, etc
PATTERN
Number + cái + non-living thing
| Bàn: 5 cái | Table: 5 units |
| Có 5 cái bàn | There are 5 tables |
CON FOR ANIMALS
You will use con to count animals:
PATTERN
Number + con + animal
| Cá: 15 con | Fish: 15 units |
| Có 15 con cá | There are 15 fishes |
NGƯỜI FOR PEOPLE
You will use người to count person/people:
PATTERN
Number + người
| 15 người | 15 people |
| Gia đình tôi có 4 người | My family has 4 people |
CÂY FOR LONG & THIN OBJECTS
You will use cây to count pen, pencil, candle, broom, fan, flute, etc
| Bút: 1 cây | Pen: 1 |
| Có 1 cây bút | There is a pen |
TỜ FOR PAPER
You will use tờ to count paper, newspaper and tissue:
| Giấy: 1 tờ | Paper: 1 |
| Có 1 tờ giấy | There is one paper |
MORE COUNTERS
In addition, here is a table of other 8 counters in Vietnamese:
| Counter | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cuốn | Book / Notebook | 1 cuốn, 2 cuốn, 3 cuốn |
| Bức | Letter / Picture / Photo | 1 bức, 2 bức, 3 bức |
| Chiếc | Car / Phone / Bike | 1 chiếc, 2 chiếc, 3 chiếc |
| Tấm | Cloth / Photo | 1 tấm, 2 tấm, 3 tấm |
| Viên | Ice / Marble / Meatball | 1 viên, 2 viên, 3 viên |
| Chai | Bottle | 1 chai, 2 chai, 3 chai |
| Ly | Glass | 1 ly, 2 ly, 3 ly |
| Lon | Can | 1 lon, 2 lon, 3 lon |
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FAQs
What are measure words?
The concept of measuring words actually exists in other languages! Like in English for certain nouns such as three glasses, or a bar of chocolate for example.
The only difference in Vietnamese is that all nouns must have a measure word before them.
What is the Vietnamese counter for people?
You will use người to count person/people:
Number + người
15 người. 15 people
Gia đình tôi có 4 người. My family has 4 people
What is the Vietnamese counter for animals?
You will use con to count animals:
Number + con + animal
Cá: 15 con. Fish: 15 units
Có 15 con cá. There are 15 fishes
What is the Vietnamese counter for books?
The Vietnamese counter for books is Cuốn.
For example: 1 cuốn, 2 cuốn, 3 cuốn (1 book, 2 books, 3 books)
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