giám mục
[zaːm˧˦ mʊwk͡p̚˧˨ʔ]
The English word "bishop" is translated into Vietnamese as giám mục.
giám mục refers to a church official who serves as a supervisor of priests and congregations.
Meaning: church official, supervisor of priests and congregations (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
giám mục is the most commonly used formal term for "bishop" in Vietnamese and is used in official contexts. When you wish to refer to a bishop using a title of respect, you should use the polite form đức giám mục.
Did you know?
- While the modern term giám mục refers to a high-ranking church official, the syllable mục is a homonym for a word meaning 'rotten' or 'mouldy' in native Vietnamese.
- In Vietnamese, the honorific đức used in đức giám mục literally translates to 'virtue'. By adding it, the speaker is not just naming the official but acknowledging their moral character.
- The word giám mục is a Sino-Vietnamese compound where the second syllable, mục, can also mean 'eye' in other contexts. This creates a visual connection between the official and the act of watching or overseeing.
Examples in context
- đức giám mụcThe bishopThis sentence is useful for seeing how to refer to the bishop using the respectful title.
- Tôi đã được gặp một ngài giám mục rất tốt hôm qua.I met a very kind bishop yesterday.
- Hôm nay, tôi đến thăm ông giám mục của giáo phận.Today, I visited the bishop of the diocese.
- Ông ấy là một giám mục.He is a bishop.
- Giám mục đang đến thăm giáo xứ.The bishop is visiting the parish.
Example conversation
Two people are discussing news about their local church.
- MaiHùng ơi, cậu có biết tin gì mới không?Hung, have you heard any news?
- HùngTôi nghe nói vị giám mục sắp đến đây.I heard the bishop is coming here soon.
- MaiThật sao? Đó là một tin tốt.Really? That is good news.
- HùngĐúng vậy, mọi người đều đang chuẩn bị.That's right, everyone is preparing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bishop” translations and entries giám mục, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
