gấu trúc
[ɣəw˧˦ t͡ɕʊwk͡p̚˧˦]
In Vietnamese, the word for panda is gấu trúc.
The term gấu trúc is used to refer to the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
Meaning: Ailuropoda melanoleuca (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of gấu, which means bear and trúc, which means bamboo. Literally, it translates to bamboo bear.
Did you know?
- In Vietnamese, the word gấu can also be used as slang to refer to a 'romantic partner', a usage likely inspired by the term for 'teddy bear' or 'gấu bông'.
- While the term gấu mèo (literally 'cat bear') is used in Chinese to describe a panda, in Vietnamese this phrase refers to a raccoon.
- The word gấu comes from Proto-Mon-Khmer roots and is cognate with words in the Bahnar and Katu languages.
Examples in context
- Tôi rất thích xem những con gấu trúc đáng yêu trên video.I really enjoy watching adorable pandas on videos.
- Em thích gấu trúc không?Do you like pandas?
- Tôi rất thích gấu trúc.I like pandas very much.
- Con gấu trúc đang ngủ.The panda is sleeping.
- Tôi thích con gấu trúc.I like pandas.
- Gấu trúc rất dễ thương.Pandas are very cute.
Example conversation
Tuấn and Mai are looking at animals in a picture book.
- TuấnMai nhìn này, đây là con gấu trúc.Mai look, this is a panda.
- MaiNó có hai quầng thâm ở mắt nhỉ.It has two dark circles around its eyes, doesn't it?
- TuấnĐúng rồi, đó là đặc điểm của gấu trúc.That's right, that is a characteristic of pandas.
- MaiTôi thích loài vật này lắm.I like this animal very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “panda” translations and entries gấu trúc, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gấu, gấu trúc, trúc, CC BY-SA 4.0.
