kho
[xɔ˧˧]
The English word "barn" can be translated into Vietnamese as kho or vựa.
Meaning: building (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| kho | [xɔ˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kʰɔ˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| vựa | [vɨə˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [vɨə˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
In Vietnamese, the term used for a barn depends on whether you are referring to a general storage building or a large-scale facility for specific goods. kho is a general term for a warehouse, storage room or any building used for keeping goods. If you want to refer specifically to a barn used for storing grain, use the compound phrase kho thóc.
Which one should you use?
In contrast, vựa is used for a large-scale storage facility or a central collection point for specific agricultural products, such as rice or fruit.
Did you know?
- In Vietnamese cooking, the word kho is also used as a verb meaning to simmer meat or fish in a salty sauce. This has no connection to the building kho, but the two words are spelled and pronounced identically.
- In traditional Vietnamese rural architecture, a kho thóc was often built on stilts. This design protected the grain from floods and pests, creating a structure quite different from the classic American red barn.
- The word vựa is often used metaphorically to describe a region that produces a vast amount of a specific crop. For example, the Mekong Delta is frequently called the vựa lúa or 'rice barn' of Vietnam.
Examples in context
- Anh ấy quản lý một chuồng trại lớn.He manages a large barn.
- Cái kho này rất rộng.This barn is very large.
- Họ đang xây một cái kho mới.They are building a new barn.
Example conversation
Chi and Hung are looking at a farm building.
- ChiCái kho này có cũ không anh?Is this barn old, Hung?
- HùngNó vẫn còn rất tốt.It is still very good.
- ChiEm muốn dùng kho để chứa lúa.I want to use the barn to store rice.
- HùngĐược, anh sẽ giúp em.Okay, I will help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “barn” translations and entries kho, vựa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
