đóng
[ʔɗawŋ͡m˧˦]
The English verb 'close' (as in moving a door) is translated into Vietnamese as đóng.
đóng is used to describe the action of moving a physical object, such as a door, window or container, into a shut position. For example, the phrase đóng cửa is a common set expression used both to literally close a door and to figuratively indicate that a business is closed for the day. While đóng is the verb for the action, if you wish to describe being 'close' in terms of physical proximity, you should use the adjective gần.
Meaning: move (a door) (verb)
Which one should you use?
đóng is the verb used for the action of closing physical objects, whereas gần is the adjective used to describe being 'close' in terms of distance. To describe a 'close' and heartfelt relationship between people, Vietnamese speakers use the phrase Thân Thiết. For a more formal way to explicitly convey physical nearness, the phrase Gần Kề is used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In colloquial speech, you can use the pattern đóng … lại to emphasize the completion of the action or the resulting state of being shut.
Did you know?
- In the context of performance, the word đóng is used to describe 'acting' or 'playing' a role in a movie or play, as in đóng phim.
- The word đóng can also mean 'to nail' or 'to hammer' something into place, as in đóng đinh for 'driving a nail'.
- The word đóng is actually a cognate of the Chinese character for 'freeze', meaning the root of the word is linked to the idea of things becoming frozen or static.
Examples in context
- Đóng tủ lạnh lại.Close the refrigerator.This sentence shows how to use đóng when talking about a refrigerator.Tatoeba #13598640 by leucammieuvu, translation #5162321 by CarpeLanam
- Làm ơn hãy đóng cửa.Close the door, please.This sentence demonstrates a polite way to ask someone to đóng a door.Tatoeba #8839355 by dotheduyet1999, translation #38524 by CK
- Tôi quên đóng cửa sổ.I forgot to close the windows.This sentence uses đóng to describe a forgotten action involving windows.Tatoeba #13344032 by leucammieuvu, translation #10602345 by sundown
- Tôi đang sống gần công viên.I live close to the park.
- Ngôi nhà của tôi nằm gần kề bãi biển.My house is close to the beach.
- Thời gian thi đấu đã gần kề.The competition time is approaching.
- Mối quan hệ giữa chúng ta rất thân thiết.The relationship between us is very close.
- Gia đình tôi vô cùng thân thiết.My family is extremely close.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A living room where a draft is coming in.
- MaiTuấn ơi, đóng giúp em cái cửa với.Tuấn, please close the door for me.
- TuấnĐược, để anh đóng lại luôn.Okay, let me close it now.
- MaiCảm ơn anh nhé.Thank you.
- TuấnKhông có gì đâu.You're welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “close” translations and entries đóng, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries đóng, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
