ăn cơm
[ʔan˧˧ kəːm˧˧]
To eat a meal in Vietnamese is to say ăn cơm.
The phrase ăn cơm is the standard idiomatic way to say 'eat a meal' or 'eat' in general. While the single word ăn can be used for the act of eating any substance, ăn cơm is more common when referring to a standard meal or when asking someone if they have eaten.
Meaning: eat a meal (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means 'eat rice'.
When do people say it?
Because rice is the staple food in Vietnam, the word for rice (cơm) is used as a generic term for a meal in the verb phrase for eating.
Did you know?
- The word ăn is used in many idioms that have nothing to do with food, such as ăn ảnh, which means 'to be photogenic' or literally 'to eat the photo'.
- The word cơm for 'cooked rice' has an etymological history that some linguists link to the Chinese word for 'kitchen slops' or 'rice-washing water'. This suggests the word's origins may be rooted in the practical, messy realities of traditional food preparation.
- When asking a stranger 'Have you eaten yet?', you are not necessarily being nosy or hungry. It is a standard, polite greeting used to show care for someone's well-being, similar to saying 'How are you?' in English.
Examples in context
- tôi không muốn ăn cơm.I don't want to eat cooked rice.This sentence shows how to express a lack of desire to ăn cơm.Tatoeba #1509563 by trieuho, translation #1509564 by trieuho
- Tôi đáng lẽ phải ăn cơm.I should eat rice.This sentence uses ăn cơm to express an obligation.Tatoeba #13901207 by leucammieuvu, translation #13063124 by tatemame97
- Tôi thường ăn cơm bằng đũa.I usually eat rice with chopsticks.This sentence describes the tools used when ăn cơm.Tatoeba #13381895 by leucammieuvu, translation #953687 by CK
- Tôi ăn sáng.I eat breakfast
- Họ ăn cơm trưa.They eat lunch
- Anh ấy thích ăn trái cây.He likes to eat fruits
- Anh ấy đang ăn cơm.He is eating
- Mình nhậu cùng bạn bè nhé!Let's have a social gathering with food and drinks with friends!
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nam and Lan are talking at home during dinner time.
- NamLan ơi, đến giờ ăn cơm rồi!Lan, it is time to eat now!
- LanVâng, em đi rửa tay rồi ăn cơm.Yes, I will wash my hands and then eat.
- NamHôm nay mình ăn cơm với cá.Today we are eating rice with fish.
- LanEm thích ăn cơm với cá lắm.I love eating rice with fish very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eat” translations and entries ăn cơm, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cơm, ăn, ăn cơm, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
