y tá
[ʔi˧˧ taː˧˦]
The English word nurse is translated into Vietnamese as y tá.
The term refers to a person trained to provide care for the sick.
Meaning: person trained to provide care for the sick (noun)
Which one should you use?
điều dưỡng is the modern and professional term for a nurse, whereas y tá is considered more dated.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
y tá is an informal or dated term often used in casual conversation or older contexts, but is less common in official medical documentation than điều dưỡng. For a formal way to say nurse, use điều dưỡng viên.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun y tá does not change its form based on gender or number.
Did you know?
- Because y tá is rooted in the concept of 'assisting', it historically reflected the hierarchy of the medical field where nurses were seen as assistants to physicians.
- In Vietnamese, the term điều dưỡng translates more closely to 'care and nursing' or 'regulation of health' than the simple noun 'nurse'.
- The word y tá is linguistically rooted in Sino-Vietnamese origins, meaning it carries traces of ancient Chinese medical terminology.
Examples in context
- Layla muốn thành y tá.Layla wanted to be a nurse.The first sentence shows someone expressing a desire to become a y tá.Tatoeba #6232659 by moriole, translation #6086662 by OsoHombre
- Cô ấy làm y tá trong bệnh viện.She works as a nurse in the hospital.The second sentence describes a person working as a y tá in a hospital.Tatoeba #11311494 by chaule3, translation #11311492 by chaule3
- Cô ấy làm y tá trong bệnh viện địa phương.She works as a nurse in the local hospital.The third sentence describes a person working as a y tá in a local hospital.Tatoeba #11311507 by chaule3, translation #315775 by CK
- Chị là y tá tận tâm.You are a dedicated nurse.
- Trường đào tạo điều dưỡng viên của chúng ta rất uy tín.Our nursing training institution is highly reputable.
- Nghề y tá đòi hỏi kiến thức và tầm nhìn rộng lớn.The nursing profession requires extensive knowledge and a broad perspective.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hương and Minh are talking about a person they know at the hospital.
- HươngChị ấy là y tá à?Is she a nurse?
- MinhĐúng vậy, chị ấy là y tá.That's right, she is a nurse.
- HươngChị ấy làm việc ở đâu?Where does she work?
- MinhChị ấy làm việc ở bệnh viện.She works at the hospital.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nurse” translations and entries y tá, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tá, y, y tá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
