tắm
[tam˧˦]
The Vietnamese word for 'bath' is tắm. If unsure, use tắm. Wiktionary also lists tắm gội.
Meaning: act of bathing (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| tắm | [tam˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [tam˦˧˥] (Huế, narrow) |
| tắm gội |
The word tắm can function as a noun referring to the act of bathing or as a verb meaning 'to bathe' or 'to take a bath'. It is common to see it used in the phrase đi tắm, which means 'to go take a bath' or 'to go take a shower'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase bồn tắm (bathtub) is a combination of bồn (basin/tub) and tắm (bath). Similarly, khăn tắm (bath towel) combines khăn (towel/cloth) and tắm (bath).
Related words
Did you know?
- In traditional Vietnamese culture, bathing often involves tắm lá, which is bathing with medicinal or aromatic leaves boiled in water.
- The word tắm shares a common ancestral root with the word for 'wash' or 'bathe' in the Khasi language of India, part of the Austroasiatic linguistic family.
- In some contexts, tắm can be used to describe the process of dyeing fabric, as the material is 'bathed' in a vat of color.
Examples in context
- Bồn tắm sạch không?Is the bath clean?This sentence uses tắm to ask about the cleanliness of a bath.Tatoeba #13844169 by leucammieuvu, translation #324958 by CK
- Tom lau người bằng khăn tắm.Tom dried himself with a bath towel.This sentence uses tắm to describe a bath towel.Tatoeba #8992801 by dotheduyet1999, translation #2698596 by WestofEden
- Cô ấy vừa định đi tắm thì chuông reo.She was just about to take a bath when the bell rang.This sentence uses tắm to describe the act of taking a bath.Tatoeba #13841742 by leucammieuvu, translation #308086 by CK
- Có nhà tắm công cộng ở đây không?Is there a public bath here?
- Phòng tắm ở đâu?Where is the bath?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hùng and Lan are talking at home after a long day.
- HùngEm có muốn đi tắm không?Do you want to go take a bath?
- LanCó, em muốn tắm ngay bây giờ.Yes, I want to bathe right now.
- HùngVậy anh cũng đi tắm luôn.Then I will also go bathe right away.
- LanAnh tắm nhanh nhé.Please bathe quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bath” translations and entries tắm, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gội, tắm, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
