van
In Vietnamese, the word for valve is van.
The term van refers to a device that controls the flow of a gas or fluid. You can use it as a base to describe various specific types of valves, such as van an toàn (safety valve), van xả (drain valve) and van chữ thập (cross valve).
Meaning: device that controls the flow of a gas or fluid (noun)
Which one should you use?
While van is the general term for a valve, other specific forms are used to describe parts or types. For instance, Cổng refers specifically to a gate or gate valve and Cánh van refers to the valve disk itself.
Did you know?
- While van refers to a mechanical valve today, the same spelling was historically used as a loanword for the French 'valse' to describe the waltz dance.
- In certain Vietnamese contexts, the word van can also function as a verb meaning 'to entreat' or 'to plead', though this is a completely different linguistic root from the mechanical 'valve'.
- Vietnamese uses the word cánh meaning 'wing' or 'petal' to describe the 'valve disk' (cánh van), imagining the mechanical part as a delicate leaf or wing.
Examples in context
- Trong hệ thống cấp nước, các bình chứa có van để kiểm soát dòng chảy nước.In the water supply system, storage tanks have valves to control the flow of water.
- Anh ấy đang sửa chữa van máy bay.He is fixing the airplane valve.
- Cái van này bị hỏng rồi.This valve is broken.
- Hãy đóng van ngay lập tức.Close the valve immediately.
Example conversation
Minh and Lan are checking the plumbing in their kitchen.
- MinhLan ơi, kiểm tra cái van này giúp anh.Lan, please help me check this valve.
- LanNó đang bị rò rỉ nước kìa.It is leaking water.
- MinhAnh sẽ gọi thợ sửa ngay.I will call a repairman right away.
- LanDạ, anh làm nhanh nhé.Yes, please do it quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “valve” translations and entries van, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries van, CC BY-SA 4.0.
