Vietnamese Homonyms // 10 We Want To Teach You
Top 10 Commonly Used Vietnamese Homonyms That You Must Know
Today we are going to teach you some of the most useful Vietnamese Homonyms – but first things first…
WHAT IS A HOMONYM?
A homonym is defined as a word that sounds the same or is spelled the same as another word but has a different meaning
Homonyms are considered to be one of the most challenging parts of learning any language but determine the attractiveness of a language also.
They give great insight into a new language and can prove quite fascinating to learn!
Before we start though, we also thought you’d be interested in these topics as well!
- 31 examples of Vietlish words
- Vietnamese Slang – 8 words you need to learn
- Vietnamese Proverbs – The Key To Sounding Like A Native Speaker
Anyway back to today’s topic – let’s explore the top 10 popular homonyms in Vietnamese with definitions and example sentences to boot.
“Learning a language is not a destination, but a journey” – Jean Brunet
Vietnamese Homonyms #1: Đá
Vietnamese Homonyms #2: Chín
Vietnamese Homonyms #3: Đường
Vietnamese Homonyms #4: Mất
Vietnamese Homonyms #5: Câu
Vietnamese Homonyms #6: Bàn
Vietnamese Homonyms #7: Thu
Vietnamese Homonyms #8: Bò
Vietnamese Homonyms #9: Kho
Vietnamese Homonyms #10: Cổ
Vietnamese Homonyms: FAQ’s
Vietnamese Homonyms #1: Đá
Đá acts as a verb referring to the action of kicking, or hitting someone or something with the foot.
It can also mean the movement of the feet and legs suddenly and violently.
Các cầu thủ đá bóng
The soccer players kick the ball
Đá can also be used a noun. The meaning is “ice”.
Cho tôi một ly nước chanh đá
I would like a cup of iced lemonade
Vietnamese Homonyms #2: Chín
“Chín” can be used to express the number “nine”, or the edible status of foods and fruits.
Let’s take a look at a couple of examples.
Có chín chiếc bút chì
There are nine pencils
Now for the 2nd meaning.
Cho em một phần bít-tết chín kĩ
I would like a well-done beefsteak
When enjoying a beefsteak you can of course request the meat to be cooked to different levels. This video below shows the 5 levels in Vietnamese.
Comment down below how you like yours cooked!
Vietnamese Homonyms #3: Đường
Đường is another common homonym used by Vietnamese when talking about food or drink. It relates to something that is sugar free, as you’ll see in some examples below
Đường can also mean road or a walking path…
Tôi băng qua đường
I cross the road
You will most definitely find the word đường when at a restaurant or coffee shop with these possible examples.
- Sữa tươi không đường – sugar-free fresh milk
- Sữa chua không đường – sugar-free yogurt
- Cà phê không đường – sugar-free coffee
Vietnamese Homonyms #4: Mất
The first meaning of Mất is to lose something.
Chị ấy mất chìa khóa nhà rồi.
She lost her house key
Alternatively, “mất” can also be used as an indirect way of speaking to keep other people from being offended or feeling uncomfortable when talking about “death”.
Chú ấy đã mất cách đây hai năm
He passed away two years ago
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Vietnamese Homonyms #5: Câu
One of the more favoured activities for Vietnamese, no matter what the age, is to go fishing – câu cá.
Additionally, in casual conversation, “câu” can be known as a sentence or a meaningful group of words containing verbs, adjectives.
- Câu văn – a sentence
- Câu hỏi – a question
- Câu trả lời – an answer
Vietnamese Homonyms #6: Bàn
When we use Bàn as a noun, it simply means a table.
On the other hand, when Bàn is used as a verb, it refers to the action of discussing something.
Let’s take a look at two examples.
Em nhớ dọn dẹp bàn ăn sau khi ăn xong nhé.
Remember to clean the dining table after finishing your meal
And the second meaning…
Chúng tôi đang bàn về trận bóng đêm qua
We are discussing the football match last night
Vietnamese Homonyms #7: Thu
Thu, on one hand describes an action – to collect money from somebody.
Cho anh thu tiền nhà tháng 6.
I want to collect the rent for the month of June.
On the other hand, thu describes the most beautiful season in Hanoi, Autumn – mùa thu.
Autumn in Hanoi is so beautiful and heart-melting that many songs are made for it including this one below.
Vietnamese Homonyms #8: Bò
When people use bò as a verb, it describes an action, to crawl.
Alternatively, Bò also means beef or cow in Vietnamese.
- Con bò – A cow
- Thịt bò – Beef
- Phở bò – Vietnamese beef noodle soup
Phở bò is a mainstream type of Vietnamese cuisine that is actually popular in many countries outside of Vietnam also.
If you are into Vietnamese cuisine, why don’t you discover the top 6 tasty Vietnamese street foods – three from the north, and three from the south.
Vietnamese Homonyms #9: Kho
Kho refers to cooking meat or vegetables very slowly with a little liquid in a closed container.
One of the most favoured dishes in Vietnam is “cá kho tộ”, in which fish is stewed slowly on a low heat for long hours.
Furthermore, we also have various dishes such as thịt kho, bò kho as shown in the photos below.
Meanwhile, people also use kho when talking about a warehouse or a large building for storing products before they are sold, used, or sent out to shops
Vietnamese Homonyms #10: Cổ
As an adjective, Cổ describes ancient, very old characteristics; having existed for a very long time. Antiques essentially.
Here are two examples:
đồ cổ
antique
and…
phố cổ Hội An
Hoi An old quarter
Phố cổ Hội An is known for its great food, fun shopping, skilled tailors, friendly people and cosy atmosphere.
All of these are key characteristics that draw people to this picturesque town.
Cổ is also a part of the body, referring to the neck.
Vụ tai nạn đã làm cô ấy bị đau xương cổ
The accident causes her neck pain
That is the most 10 popular Vietnamese homonyms. We do really hope that they will be helpful for you in learning Vietnamese.
If you can think of anymore homonyms in Vietnamese that we perhaps missed out, why not tell us below.
Homonyms in Vietnamese // FAQ’s
What is a homonym?
A homonym is defined as a word that sounds the same or is spelled the same as another word but has a different meaning
Which Vietnamese word means “kicking” and “ice”?
Đá
Đá acts as a verb referring to the action of kicking, or hitting someone or something with the foot, or moving the feet and legs suddenly and violently.
It can also be a noun that means “ice”.
What does “đường” mean in Vietnamese?
Đường is another common homonym used by Vietnamese when talking about food or drink. It relates to something that is sugar free.
Đường can also mean road or a walking path…
Tôi băng qua đường for example means “I cross the road“.
What does “bò” mean in Vietnamese?
When people use bò as a verb, it describes an action, to crawl.
Alternatively, Bò also means beef or cow in Vietnamese.
Con bò – A cow
Thịt bò – Beef
Phở bò – Vietnamese beef noodle soup
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