trắng
[t͡ɕaŋ˧˦]
The English word white is translated into Vietnamese as trắng.
The word trắng functions as both a noun and an adjective. You can use it to name the color itself or to describe objects and skin. To specifically refer to the color white as a noun, it is common to use the phrase màu trắng. There are several specific variations of the color: màu trắng tinh khôi means pure white, while trắng ngà is used to describe ivory white. For example, if you want to mention a váy trắng, you are talking about a white dress.
Meaning: color (noun)
Which one should you use?
While trắng is the common way to express the color, bạch is a more formal or literary alternative used to mean white.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to specify the color white as a noun, you often add the word màu (meaning color) before trắng to form màu trắng.
Did you know?
- In Vietnamese culture, the color trắng is traditionally associated with mourning and funerals. This is a contrast to Western cultures where black is the primary color of grief.
- The word trắng is used in the idiom trắng tay, which literally means 'white hands'. This phrase is used to describe someone who has lost everything or has nothing left.
- While trắng is the standard word for 'white', the formal alternative bạch is a loanword from Chinese. It is often used in compound words to describe things like 'albino' or 'white' in a medical or scientific context.
Examples in context
- Da cô ấy trắng.Her skin is white.This sentence shows how to use trắng to describe skin.Tatoeba #14025628 by leucammieuvu, translation #14024901 by rul
- Tom chạy xe màu trắng.Tom drives a white car.This sentence demonstrates using trắng to describe the color of a vehicle.Tatoeba #4623058 by khoaharp, translation #3170644 by CK
- Con chó này màu trắng.This dog is white.This sentence uses trắng to describe the color of an animal.Tatoeba #5161367 by truongap, translation #441382 by CK
- Áo sơ mi này màu trắng đẹp quá!This white shirt is so beautiful!
- Chiếc bàn này màu trắng tinh khôi.This table is pure white.
- Con chó nhà tôi có lông trắng ngà rất đẹp.My dog has beautiful ivory white fur.
- Cô gái mặc váy trắng đang ngồi đó.The girl wearing a white dress is sitting there.
- Tôi thích màu trắng nhưng anh ấy thích màu đen hơn.I like white, but he likes black more.
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hùng and Hương are looking at a new shirt in a store.
- HùngHương ơi, cái áo này màu trắng đúng không?Hương, this shirt is white, right?
- HươngĐúng rồi, nó màu trắng tinh luôn.Yes, it is pure white.
- HùngTôi muốn mua màu trắng cho dễ phối đồ.I want to buy white so it is easy to match clothes.
- HươngMàu trắng rất hợp với Hùng đó.White really suits you, Hùng.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “white” translations and entries trắng, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
