đồ
[ʔɗo˨˩]
In Vietnamese, 'stuff' is expressed as đồ.
đồ is used to refer to miscellaneous items or physical things. It is often used as a classifier for inanimate objects. You can combine it with other words to create specific terms: for example, combining it with 'ăn' (to eat) creates the phrase đồ ăn, which means 'food' or 'eating stuff'. Additionally, the reduplicated form đồ đạc is a very common way to collectively refer to household items, furniture or personal belongings.
Meaning: miscellaneous items, things (noun)
Which one should you use?
While đồ refers to physical objects or 'stuff', the word thứ is used when referring to more abstract 'things' or types of items.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word đồ functions as a noun meaning 'stuff' or 'things' and often serves as a classifier for inanimate objects.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using đồ to refer to 'stuff' in an abstract sense, such as 'stuff in my head'. For abstract concepts, Vietnamese prefers using thứ or chuyện instead.
Did you know?
- While đồ is a common way to say 'stuff', it can also function as a prefix for insults. When placed before a person or an animal, it turns the noun into a derogatory term for that creature.
- In Vietnamese music, đồ is the name of the first note of the solfège scale, similar to 'do' in English.
- Because đồ can stem from the Sino-Vietnamese word for 'diagram' or 'map' (圖), it shares a linguistic history with terms used for visual representations, not just physical objects.
Examples in context
- Tôi đã mua một ít đồ trong siêu thị.I bought some stuff in the supermarket.This sentence shows how to use đồ to talk about buying stuff in a supermarket.Tatoeba #11266819 by chaule3, translation #11266818 by chaule3
- Bạn có thể lấy đồ của bạn ra khỏi bàn được không?Can you take your stuff off the table?This sentence demonstrates asking someone to move their đồ from a table.Tatoeba #11266828 by chaule3, translation #11266826 by chaule3
- Tôi không thích ăn đồ ăn nhanh, vì nó có nhiều thứ không tốt cho sức khỏe.I don't like to eat fast food, because it has a lot of unhealthy stuff.This sentence illustrates using đồ in the context of discussing unhealthy stuff in food.Tatoeba #11268588 by chaule3, translation #11268583 by chaule3
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chi and Nam are cleaning the living room together.
- ChiNam ơi, đồ của anh ở đâu hết rồi?Nam, where is all your stuff?
- NamNó nằm trong cái hộp kia kìa.It is in that box over there.
- ChiAnh hãy dọn đồ của mình đi nhé.Please clear your stuff away.
- NamĐược rồi, anh sẽ dọn ngay bây giờ.Okay, I will clean it up right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stuff” translations and entries đồ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries đồ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
