tay
[taj˧˧]
The English word "hand" is tay in Vietnamese.
tay is the noun used for the hand. In many common Vietnamese compound words and phrases, tay is used to refer to both the hand and the arm.
Meaning: part of the fore limb (noun)
Related words
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers might mistakenly use tay to mean "arm" exclusively. However, while tay can encompass the limb in certain contexts, the specific word for arm is cánh tay.
Did you know?
- In Vietnamese culture, the right hand is traditionally preferred for giving and receiving items, while using the left hand alone can be perceived as impolite in formal or traditional settings.
- In Vietnamese, the word tay is used in various idioms to describe skills or traits. For example, tay hòm chìa khóa describes a person who manages the household finances, literally meaning 'the hand of the chest and the key'.
- The word tay can be used to describe the 'handle' of a tool or a door, such as tay nắm cửa. In these cases, it treats the inanimate object as a metaphorical extension of a human limb.
Examples in context
- Tay tôi rất nhẹ.My hand is very light.Tatoeba #14057103 by leucammieuvu, translation #14055861 by Tartar
- Giơ tay lên trời đi.Raise your hand to the sky.Tatoeba #13870195 by leucammieuvu, translation #46776 by fekundulo
- Giơ tay để phát biểu.Raise your hand to speak.Tatoeba #13877249 by leucammieuvu, translation #13826951 by rul
- Tay là bộ phận quan trọng trên cơ thể người.The hand is an important body part.
- Anh ấy cầm lấy tay của cô gái.He held the girl's hand.
- Bàn tay của anh ấy rất mềm mại.His hand is very soft.
- Máu chảy từ lòng bàn tay của tôi.Blood flowed from the palm of my hand.
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nam and Huong are eating lunch together.
- Hương HuongTay của anh Nam bị sao vậy?What happened to your hand, Nam?
- NamAnh vừa bị đứt tay một chút.I just cut my hand a little.
- Hương HuongĐể em giúp anh rửa tay nhé.Let me help you wash your hand.
- NamCảm ơn Hương nhiều nhé.Thank you very much, Huong.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hand” translations and entries tay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
