bắt
[ʔɓat̚˧˦]
To catch in Vietnamese is bắt.
The verb bắt is used to describe the action of capturing or snaring.
Meaning: to capture or snare (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
You can change the tense of bắt by placing specific words before it: to express the past tense (caught), use đã bắt. To express the continuous aspect (is catching), use đang bắt. And to express the future tense (will catch), use sẽ bắt.
Did you know?
- The word bắt is also used to mean 'to force' or 'to compel' someone to do something. For example, a parent might bắt a child to study, even though no physical capturing is happening.
- To describe 'catching a cold', Vietnamese speakers do not use bắt. Instead, they use the word bị, which implies being 'hit' or 'affected' by an unwanted condition.
- While bắt is used for capturing animals, the phrase bắt bài refers to 'predicting' someone's move or seeing through a trick, as if catching their secret play in a card game.
Examples in context
- Mèo thích bắt chuột.Cats like to catch mice.This sentence shows the use of bắt regarding cats and mice.Tatoeba #11357071 by chaule3, translation #11357069 by chaule3
- Tôi sẽ đi bắt tôm hùm.I'm going to catch lobsters.This sentence demonstrates how to use bắt when referring to catching lobsters.Tatoeba #13896370 by leucammieuvu, translation #13895291 by frpzzd
- Bạn có thể bắt gà không?Can you catch the chicken?This sentence illustrates a request to use bắt for a chicken.Tatoeba #13726785 by leucammieuvu, translation #1690041 by Spamster
- Tôi đã bắt được con mèo trong vườn.I caught the cat in the garden.
- Cảnh sát đã tóm được tên trộm.The police caught the thief.
- Tớ bắt được con cá to trong ao.I caught a big fish in the pond.
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lan and Nam are outdoors near a small pond.
- LanAnh có muốn đi bắt cá không?Do you want to go catch fish?
- NamĐược, nhưng phải bắt thật nhanh.Sure, but we have to catch them quickly.
- LanEm sẽ dùng cái lưới này.I will use this net.
- NamĐể anh giúp em một tay.Let me give you a hand.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “catch” translations and entries bắt, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
