hộ chiếu
[ho˧˨ʔ t͡ɕiəw˧˦]
The English word passport is hộ chiếu in Vietnamese. Wiktionary also lists giấy thông hành.
Meaning: official document for foreign travel (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| hộ chiếu | [ho˧˨ʔ t͡ɕiəw˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [how˨˩ʔ t͡ɕiw˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
| giấy thông hành | [zəj˧˦ tʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ hajŋ̟˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [jəj˨˩˦ tʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ hɛɲ˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
A passport is an official document for foreign travel.
What does it mean word for word?
The word hộ chiếu is composed of hộ (to protect/guard) and chiếu (a document/decree).
Which one should you use?
hộ chiếu is the standard, modern term for a national passport used in official contexts. In contrast, giấy thông hành literally means 'document for passing through' and is used for travel permits or laissez-passers rather than a standard national passport.
Did you know?
- The word chiếu in hộ chiếu comes from a root that also means 'decree' or 'imperial order'. This reflects a history where travel permission was seen as a direct command from the sovereign.
- The word giấy (paper) is related to the word giặc (thief/rebel), as both stem from similar historical phonological shifts from ancient Chinese sources.
- The character used for hộ in hộ chiếu is the same as the one used in the word for 'passport' in Chinese and Japanese.
Examples in context
- Hộ chiếu của tôi đang ở khách sạn.My passport is at the hotel.This sentence is useful for saying that your hộ chiếu is at the hotel.Tatoeba #13710217 by leucammieuvu, translation #13709342 by carlosalberto
- Tôi nghe nói họ không có hộ chiếu.I heard they don't have a passport.This sentence is useful for mentioning that someone does not have a hộ chiếu.Tatoeba #13726512 by leucammieuvu, translation #13724862 by terrywallwork
- Xin ông vui lòng cho tôi xem hộ chiếu của ông.Will you show me your passport, please?This sentence is useful for asking someone to show you their hộ chiếu.Tatoeba #510398 by autuno, translation #35272 by autuno
- Tôi cần làm hộ chiếu mới.I need to make a new passport.
- Xin vui lòng kiểm tra hộ chiếu của tôi.Please check my passport.
- Bạn có hộ chiếu không?Do you have a passport?
- Anh ấy đem theo cái hộ chiếu khi đi du lịch.He brings his passport when traveling.
- Hãy kiểm tra cái hộ chiếu của bạn trước khi đi.Please check your passport before you go.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Tuấn and Hương are preparing for their trip at the airport.
- TuấnHương ơi, bạn có cầm hộ chiếu chưa?Huong, do you have your passport?
- HươngMình để hộ chiếu trong túi rồi.I put my passport in my bag.
- TuấnTốt lắm, chúng ta đi thôi.Great, let's go.
- HươngĐợi mình một chút nhé.Wait for me a moment.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “passport” translations and entries hộ chiếu, giấy thông hành, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chiếu, giấy, giấy thông hành, hộ, hộ chiếu, thông, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
