lần
[lən˨˩]
In Vietnamese, 'times' can be translated as lần.
The word lần is used in two primary ways: to count how many times an event occurs or to act as a mathematical multiplier. To express that something is 'X times' larger or more than something else, you use the structure gấp [number] lần.
Meaning: multiplied by (prep)
Which one should you use?
When using the word to count occurrences, such as saying 'three times', lần is placed after the number.
How does it change in a sentence?
lần functions as a counter for occurrences or as a multiplier in mathematical contexts.
Did you know?
- The word lần is a non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of the Chinese character 輪, which literally refers to a 'wheel' or a 'circle'.
- The term lần lượt uses the word lần to describe doing something 'one by one' or 'in turn', evoking the image of a wheel turning through a list of people.
- Vietnamese uses lần both for 'times' in multiplication and as a counter for frequency, but for 'times' in the sense of 'eras' or 'periods', a different word like thời is used.
Examples in context
- Đáng gấp ba lần chỗ đó.It's worth three times that much.This sentence is useful for demonstrating how to use lần in a multiplicative context.Tatoeba #5172058 by truongap, translation #4014256 by CK
- Tom đến đây ba lần một năm.Tom comes here three times a year.This sentence shows how to use lần when counting occurrences over a period of time.Tatoeba #9086758 by dotheduyet1999, translation #6348341 by CK
- Sami đã kết hôn mười hai lần.Sami has been married twelve times.This sentence illustrates how to use lần to count the number of times an event has happened.Tatoeba #13249796 by leucammieuvu, translation #5918403 by OsoHombre
- Bây giờ là ba giờ mười phút.It is 10 minutes past 3
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nam and Lan are discussing the price of a new textbook.
- NamCuốn sách này đắt gấp hai lần cuốn kia.This book is two times more expensive than that one.
- LanThật sao? Đắt quá vậy!Really? That is too expensive!
- NamGiá của nó gấp ba lần bình thường.Its price is three times the normal amount.
- LanChúng ta không nên mua nó.We should not buy it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry lần, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lần, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
