chiến tranh
[t͡ɕiən˧˦ t͡ɕajŋ̟˧˧]
The English phrase "war" is translated into Vietnamese as chiến tranh.
chiến tranh is used to describe a conflict involving the organized use of arms.
Meaning: conflict involving organized use of arms (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a compound of chiến, meaning fight or battle and tranh, meaning compete or struggle.
Which one should you use?
While chiến tranh refers to the broad state of war, cuộc chiến is often used to refer to a specific conflict or a particular struggle or battle.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun chiến tranh is used for both countable and uncountable contexts, such as "a war" or "war" in general, without needing a specific plural marker for the concept itself.
Did you know?
- The word tranh in chiến tranh is a homonym for a type of 'thatch grass' used in traditional roofing. While they sound the same, the grass term comes from an ancient Proto-Austroasiatic root rather than Chinese.
- The word tranh is also used in tranh luận, which means 'to debate'. This shows that in Vietnamese, a verbal argument is viewed as a form of 'struggle' or 'competition' similar to a physical war.
- In Vietnamese literature and poetry, the struggle implied by tranh often extends beyond military war to include 'struggles' for love or social status. The word captures a spirit of competition that is more emotional than the English 'war'.
Examples in context
- Chiến tranh đang đến.War is coming.This sentence is useful for describing the approach of war using chiến tranh.Tatoeba #13899212 by leucammieuvu, translation #13898262 by rul
- Chiến tranh đã kết thúc.The war has ended.This sentence is useful for describing the end of a war using chiến tranh.Tatoeba #10269106 by Alex_do, translation #9501177 by CK
- Chiến tranh có lẽ sẽ xảy ra.There's a possibility of war.This sentence is useful for discussing the possibility of war using chiến tranh.Tatoeba #9007689 by dotheduyet1999, translation #273268 by CK
- Quốc gia này đã trải qua nhiều chiến tranh trong lịch sử của nó.The country has experienced many wars throughout its history
- Những tác động tàn phá của chiến tranh được cảm nhận bởi tất cả mọi người.The devastating effects of war are felt by all
- Chiến tranh có thể mang lại hậu quả kéo dài đối với các xã hội.War can have long-lasting consequences for societies
- Chiến tranh Việt NamVietnam War
- Chiến tranh thế giớiWorld War
- Chiến tranh LạnhCold War
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nam and Chi are discussing a history book.
- NamCuốn sách này viết về một cuộc chiến tranh.This book is about a war.
- ChiNó nói về chiến tranh ở đâu?Where does it talk about the war?
- NamNó nói về chiến tranh thế giới.It talks about the world war.
- ChiNam, nội dung này thật sự rất phức tạp.Nam, this content is truly complex.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “war” translations and entries chiến tranh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chiến, chiến tranh, tranh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
