thuyền
[tʰwiən˨˩]
The Vietnamese word for boat is thuyền.
thuyền refers to a water craft, typically a smaller vessel that may be human-powered or equipped with a small motor.
Meaning: water craft (noun)
Which one should you use?
While thuyền is used for smaller boats, the word tàu is the standard term used for large ships or ocean-going vessels.
How does it change in a sentence?
A common way to refer to a specific boat is to use the form con thuyền. This utilizes the classifier con, which is frequently used for animals or for objects that are perceived as having movement or a sense of life.
Did you know?
- In Vietnamese folk songs and poetry, thuyền often appears as a metaphor for a lover or a wandering soul searching for a partner.
- The word thuyền comes from the Chinese character 船, which is a pictograph depicting a boat with a sail.
- Because of the classifier con, using the word for boat can subtly imply that the vessel has a soul or a sense of independent movement.
Examples in context
- Anh ấy thích đi câu cá trên thuyền.He likes to go fishing on a boat.This sentence shows how to use thuyền when talking about fishing.Tatoeba #11330530 by chaule3, translation #11330527 by chaule3
- Chúng tôi đặt tên con thuyền là Nửa Vầng Trăng.We named the boat the Half Moon.This sentence demonstrates naming a specific thuyền.Tatoeba #5158956 by truongap, translation #248130 by CK
- Tôi muốn một chiếc thuyền sẽ đưa tôi đi xa khỏi nơi đây.I want a boat that will take me far away from here.This sentence illustrates the desire for a thuyền to travel.Tatoeba #9559502 by Alex_do, translation #1526 by Zifre
- Tôi muốn thuê một chiếc thuyền để khám phá vịnh Hạ Long.I want to rent a boat to explore Halong Bay.
- Đẹp quá, cái thuyền này có màu sắc tuyệt vời!Wow, this boat has such amazing colors!
- Chúng ta đi dạo quanh sông Sài Gòn bằng con thuyền nhé!Let's go for a ride on a small boat along the Saigon River!
- Các em đã thấy tấm biển trên con thuyền chưa?Have you kids seen the sign on the boat yet?
- Tôi muốn mua một chiếc thuyền đánh cá.I want to buy a fishing boat.
- Chúng ta hãy thuê một chiếc thuyền để du lịch đảo Cát Bà.Let's rent a boat to visit Cat Ba Island.
Example conversation
Chi and Minh are at a riverbank during a trip.
- ChiMinh ơi, chúng ta sẽ đi bằng thuyền chứ?Minh, are we going by boat?
- MinhĐúng vậy, tôi đã thuê một chiếc thuyền nhỏ rồi.Yes, I have already rented a small boat.
- ChiChiếc thuyền đó có an toàn không anh?Is that boat safe?
- MinhYên tâm đi, nó rất chắc chắn.Don't worry, it is very sturdy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boat” translations and entries thuyền, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries thuyền, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
