chiếc

Vietnamese

Etymology

Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 隻 (“classifier; single, alone”, SV: chích). Possibly doublet of chách.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕiək̚˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕiək̚˦˧˥]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ciək̚˦˥]

• Audio (Hà Nội):

  (file)

Classifier

chiếc • (隻)

1. (formal or literary) Indicates generic inanimate tangible things

   Synonym: cái

   Chiếc lược ngà ― The Ivory Comb

2. (colloquial) Indicates popular vehicles, such as bicycles, motorcycles, cars, etc.

   Synonym: con

   Nó có hai chiếc xe máy.

   He's got two motorcycles.

Usage notes

• As a classifier, chiếc is usually considered as a formal, or even literary, counterpart to cái. It is mostly used colloquially when indicating some types of vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, cars, etc.
• Using chiếc deliberately with a noun it typically doesn't pair with can produce a slangish construction for comedic or playful effect. For example:
  • 2021 May 22, Trúng tim cậu chưa?, Facebook‎^[1] (post):

    Những chiếc mèo hài hước =))

    Funni cats =))

  • 2025 April 1, nhanmoc, Thread‎^[2] (post):

    Một chiếc cà phê núp hẻm ở Vũng Tàu

    A [cutie] café hidden in the alley in Vũng Tàu

  • 2025 July 16, Đài English, Facebook‎^[3] (post):

    Chiếc meme huyền thoại một thời này k biết năm nay có bị soán ngôi k đây :)))))))))))))))))

    [I wonder] if this once legendary meme could even be toppled this year :)))))))))))))))))

• Note that only cái can be used to indicate zoological body parts, except for teeth.

Derived terms

• đơn chiếc