đó
[ʔɗɔ˧˦]
The English phrase 'that' is translated into Vietnamese as đó. Wiktionary also lists cái đó and kia.
Meaning: what is being indicated (det)
Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| đó | [ʔɗɔ˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɗɔ˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
| cái đó | |
| kia | [kiə˧˧] (Hà Nội, narrow) [kiə˧˧] (Huế, narrow) |
| cái kia |
The word đó is used to indicate what is being indicated. In many Vietnamese dialects, đó can also be used as a sentence-final particle to add emphasis or to seek confirmation, similar to 'right?' or 'isn't it?'
Which one should you use?
The word kia is used to indicate an object that is at a greater distance from the speaker than đó. For example, kia means 'that (farther)'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the classifier cái before đó turns the demonstrative into a more concrete noun phrase meaning 'that thing'. Specifically, cái đó means 'that thing' and cái kia means 'that thing over there'.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Đó là Tom à?That was Tom?This example shows the use of đó in a question.Tatoeba #13340796 by leucammieuvu, translation #14015122 by kaithespanishstrateg
- Đó là máu à?Is that blood?This example uses đó to identify a substance.Tatoeba #13340969 by leucammieuvu, translation #4627836 by Hybrid
- Gã đó là ai?Who is that guy?This example uses đó to identify a person.Tatoeba #13726668 by leucammieuvu, translation #2270205 by _undertoad
- Tôi thích quyển sách đó.I like that book.
- Bạn có thấy căn nhà đó không?Do you see that house?
- Đó là cái gì?What is that?
- Bạn có thấy cái đám mây kia không?Do you see that cloud?
- 687 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hương and Minh are looking at a photo together.
- HươngAnh biết người đó là ai không?Do you know who that person is?
- MinhAnh không biết, nhưng nhìn quen quá.I don't know, but they look very familiar.
- HươngĐó là đồng nghiệp cũ của em.That is my old colleague.
- MinhỒ, vậy hả?Oh, really?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “that” translations and entries đó, kia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cái, kia, đó, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
