to
[tɔ˧˧]
The English word 'big' can be translated into Vietnamese as to, lớn or bự.
Meaning: of a great size (adj)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| to | [tɔ˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [tɔ˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
|
| lớn | [ləːn˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ləːŋ˦˧˥] (Huế, narrow) |
|
| bự | [ʔɓɨ˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓɨ˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
informal |
The most common way to describe physical size in everyday speech is to. The word lớn is used for more abstract qualities, such as 'big importance' and can also mean 'old' when describing people in certain contexts. The word bự is a colloquial way to say big or huge.
Which one should you use?
to is the neutral, everyday term for physical size. lớn is more formal and is preferred for abstract concepts. bự and the phrase to tướng are both informal ways to describe something as big.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
to is neutral. lớn is more formal. bự and to tướng are informal or colloquial.
Is it said differently in some regions?
bự is an informal term often used in Southern Vietnamese dialects.
Did you know?
- While to describes physical size, it is also cognate with the word for 'body' or 'trunk' in many Tai-Kadai languages, such as Thai and Lao.
- While to is neutral, using bự to describe a person's physical build can sometimes be perceived as blunt or overly casual depending on the social hierarchy.
- Using lớn to describe a person can change the meaning from their physical scale to their seniority or social status.
Examples in context
- Tôi có cặc to!I've got a big dick!This sentence uses to to describe physical size.Tatoeba #8990219 by dotheduyet1999, translation #948102 by Pincenoire
- Cái đó to thế.That's big.Tatoeba #13341116 by leucammieuvu, translation #13320567 by rul
- Nó không đủ to.It's not big enough.Tatoeba #8961808 by dotheduyet1999, translation #6815351 by CK
- Cái nhà này rất lớn.This house is very big.
- Hãy xây cầu to hơn.Let's build a bigger bridge.
- Quảng trường này to tướng hơn quảng trường kia.This square is bigger than that square.
- 52 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hương and Tuấn are looking at a menu in a restaurant.
- TuấnMón ăn này to thật đấy.This dish is really big.
- HươngAnh Tuấn muốn ăn hết không?Do you want to eat it all, Tuấn?
- TuấnChắc là không, nó to quá.Probably not, it is too big.
- HươngVậy chúng ta chia đôi nhé.Then let's split it in half.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “big” translations and entries to, lớn, bự, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lớn, to, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
