tiêu chảy
[tiəw˧˧ t͡ɕaj˧˩]
The English word diarrhea is tiêu chảy in Vietnamese. Wiktionary also lists ỉa chảy.
Meaning: medical condition (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| tiêu chảy | [tiəw˧˧ t͡ɕaj˧˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [tiw˧˧ t͡ɕaj˧˨] (Huế, narrow) |
| ỉa chảy | [ʔiə˧˩ t͡ɕaj˧˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔiə˧˨ t͡ɕaj˧˨] (Huế, narrow) |
Both terms refer to the medical condition of diarrhea.
What does it mean word for word?
tiêu chảy is composed of tiêu (to eliminate or discharge) and chảy (to flow or run). ỉa chảy is composed of ỉa (to defecate) and chảy (to flow or run).
Which one should you use?
tiêu chảy is the formal medical term for the condition, whereas ỉa chảy is a more colloquial and blunt way to describe it.
Did you know?
- The term tiêu is a homonym in Vietnamese and can also refer to a traditional bamboo flute or black pepper.
- While English speakers use the Greek-rooted 'diarrhea', Vietnamese speakers use a combination of a Sino-Vietnamese root and a native Proto-Vietic root.
- Vietnamese descriptions of illness often use liquid verbs like chảy ('to flow') to describe conditions that English treats as static nouns.
Examples in context
- Bạn nên dùng thuốc để hạn chế tiêu chảy trong thời gian này.You should take medicine to control diarrhea during this time.
- Tôi bị tiêu chảy suốt cả đêm.I had diarrhea all night.
- Thuốc này giúp chữa tiêu chảy.This medicine helps treat diarrhea.
- Trẻ em có thể bị tiêu chảy.Children can have diarrhea.
Example conversation
Nam is explaining his illness to Hương at home.
- NamHương ơi, anh bị tiêu chảy rồi.Huong, I have diarrhea.
- HươngAnh đã ăn gì lạ à?Did you eat something strange?
- NamCó lẽ là đồ ăn ngoài đường.Maybe it was street food.
- HươngĐể em đi mua thuốc cho anh.Let me go buy some medicine for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “diarrhea” translations and entries tiêu chảy, ỉa chảy, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
