Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| giống nhau | [zəwŋ͡m˧˦ ɲaw˧˧] (Hà Nội, word by word, narrow) |
| như nhau | [ɲɨ˧˧ ɲaw˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ɲɨ˧˧ ɲaw˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| cùng một | [kʊwŋ͡m˨˩ mot̚˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, word by word, narrow) |
| một thứ | [mot̚˧˨ʔ tʰɨ˧˦] (Hà Nội, word by word, narrow) |
In Vietnamese, different forms are used to express various nuances of sameness. Use giống nhau to describe how two or more things or people resemble one another. Use như nhau for abstract qualities such as weight, size or value. Use cùng một to emphasize that several subjects refer to a single, specific entity. If you wish to say 'similar' or 'in the same way' in a formal context, you can use Tương tự.
What does it mean word for word?
The term giống nhau is composed of giống, meaning 'to resemble' or 'similar' and nhau, a reciprocal pronoun meaning 'each other'.
Which one should you use?
While giống nhau focuses on appearance or nature, như nhau is often used for abstract qualities like weight, size or value. To emphasize that multiple people or things are referring to one specific thing, use cùng một.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
You can often drop the nhau in giống nhau and simply use giống followed by a comparison particle like như to say something is 'like' something else. When you want to say 'the same applies to me' or 'me too', use the short responses cũng vậy or cũng thế.
Did you know?
- The reciprocal marker nhau in giống nhau may have evolved from a word meaning 'placenta'.
Examples in context
- Như nhau cả thôi.It's all the same.This sentence shows how to use như nhau to express that several things are all the same.Tatoeba #13573365 by leucammieuvu, translation #484364 by FeuDRenais
- Họ có giống nhau khôngAre they all the same?This sentence uses giống nhau to ask if multiple people or things are identical.Tatoeba #12547724 by thanhcona40, translation #1563 by CK
- Tôi có cùng một vấn đề.I have the same problem.This sentence uses cùng một to specify that a single problem is being referred to.Tatoeba #10274115 by Alex_do, translation #3821381 by CK
- Hai cái áo này giống nhau.These two shirts are the same
- Chúng ta có kiểu tóc giống nhau.We have the same hairstyle
- Hai căn nhà này trông như nhau.These two houses look the same
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nam and Mai are looking at two identical phone cases in a shop.
- NamHai cái ốp lưng này giống nhau quá.These two phone cases are so much the same.
- MaiĐúng vậy, chúng giống nhau hoàn toàn.That's right, they are completely the same.
- NamMai có thích cái màu xanh không?Does Mai like the blue one?
- MaiCó, em thấy nó rất đẹp.Yes, I think it is very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “same” translations and entries như nhau, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (giống, nhau, cùng, một, thứ) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cùng, giống, nhau, như, như nhau, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
