Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| túi | [tuj˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [tuj˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
| bao | [ʔɓaːw˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓaːw˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
Vietnamese uses different words for a bag depending on its size and purpose. túi is the standard term for small or personal bags, such as pouches or pockets on clothing. For a more specific term meaning a handbag or purse meant to be carried by hand, you can use túi xách. To express the action of putting something into a bag, you can use the phrase bỏ vào bao.
Which one should you use?
The choice between the two forms depends on the scale of the container. túi refers to small, personal items like handbags, pouches or pockets. In contrast, bao is used for larger or more industrial containers, such as sacks, bags of rice or large plastic coverings.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to specify "the bag" or treat "bag" as a countable noun, it is common to add the classifier cái before túi, forming cái túi.
Did you know?
- The word bao is a Sino-Vietnamese term derived from the Chinese character 包, which shares the same root as the word for 'bun' or 'dumpling'.
- The phrase bỏ vào bao uses the verb bỏ, which can also mean 'to abandon' or 'to quit' in other contexts.
Examples in context
- Túi bạn là cái nào?Which one is your bag?This sentence is useful for asking someone to identify their bag using túi.Tatoeba #5404943 by Vienna, translation #5401668 by sarefo
- Cái túi này quá nặng.This bag is too heavy.This sentence is useful for describing the weight of a bag using túi.Tatoeba #9865539 by dotheduyet1999, translation #4328913 by AlanF_US
- Trong túi này có gì vậy?What's in this bag?This sentence is useful for asking about the contents of a bag using túi.Tatoeba #8997642 by dotheduyet1999, translation #450136 by CK
- Tôi muốn mua một cái túi xách mới.I want to buy a new bag.
- Cô gái đó đang xách túi đen.That girl is carrying a black bag.
- Tôi định mua một cái túi da nhưng có lẽ đắt quá.I was thinking of buying a leather bag, but it might be too expensive.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hương and Nam are shopping at a store.
- HươngAnh có cần túi không?Do you need a bag?
- NamCó, cho anh một cái túi.Yes, give me a bag.
- HươngTúi này giá năm ngàn đồng.This bag costs five thousand dong.
- NamĐược, anh sẽ lấy cái túi này.Okay, I will take this bag.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bag” translations and entries túi, bao, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bao, túi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
