cửa hàng
[kɨə˧˩ haːŋ˨˩]
In Vietnamese, the English word shop is translated as cửa hàng. Wiktionary also lists hiệu and tiệm.
Meaning: establishment that sells goods (noun)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| cửa hàng | [kɨə˧˩ haːŋ˨˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kɨə˧˨ haːŋ˦˩] (Huế, narrow) |
| hiệu | [hiəw˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [hiw˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| tiệm | [tiəm˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [tiəm˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
The term refers to an establishment that sells goods. If you want to express the action of visiting shops, you can use the verb phrase đi mua hàng.
What does it mean word for word?
The word cửa hàng is composed of cửa (door) and hàng (row/goods/stall).
Which one should you use?
Cửa hàng is the most neutral and standard term for a shop or store. In contrast, tiệm is frequently used for small, specialized service-oriented shops like hair salons or small eateries.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Hiệu is often used in more formal contexts or as a component of compound words for specific types of businesses, such as hiệu sách for bookstore.
Related words
Did you know?
- In Vietnam, many small shops are not separate buildings but are integrated into the front of the owner's home, blurring the line between cửa (door) and the shop itself.
- The word hàng in the context of a shop is cognate with the Thai word 「ห้าง」 (hâang) and the Khmer word 「ហាង」 (haang).
Examples in context
- Cửa hàng đã hoàn tiền cho tôi.The shop refunded my money.This sentence demonstrates a refund involving cửa hàng.Tatoeba #13842701 by leucammieuvu, translation #13841834 by Nuel
- Chúng ta sẽ gặp nhau trước cửa hàng.We'll meet in front of the shop.This sentence describes meeting in front of a cửa hàng.Tatoeba #13693204 by leucammieuvu, translation #13692697 by Ioan_Cristian
- Bà ấy mua một cuốn sách ở cửa hàng đó.She bought a book at the shop.This sentence describes buying a book at a cửa hàng.Tatoeba #9734327 by dotheduyet1999, translation #308064 by CK
- Chúng tôi muốn đến cửa hàng đồ gia dụng.We want to go to the home appliance shop.
- Ở thành phố này, có rất nhiều hiệu sách.In this city, there are many bookshops.
- Mình đi tiệm bánh mỳ mua một ổ.I'm going to the bread shop to buy a loaf.
- Tôi muốn mua sách ở cửa hàng kia.I want to buy books at that shop.
- Cửa hàng này bán đồ chơi rất đa dạng.This shop sells a variety of toys.
- Tiệm bánh ngọt này nổi tiếng nhất ở đây.This sweet shop is the most famous here.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hương and Nam are walking down a street looking for a place to buy clothes.
- HươngAnh có thấy cửa hàng quần áo nào không?Do you see any clothing shop?
- NamCó một cửa hàng ở góc đường kia.There is a shop on that street corner.
- HươngCửa hàng đó có bán giày không nhỉ?I wonder if that shop sells shoes?
- NamĐể mình vào xem thử nhé.Let me go inside and check.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shop” translations and entries cửa hàng, hiệu, tiệm, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cửa, cửa hàng, hiệu, hàng, tiệm, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
