giới tính

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 界性, composed of 界 (“world”) and 性 (“sex”). The giới (“world”) is from expressions such as nữ giới (“the female sex”, literally “the female world”) and nam giới (“the male sex”, literally “the male world”).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [zəːj˧˦ tïŋ˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [jəːj˨˩˦ tɨn˦˧˥]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [jəːj˦˥ tɨn˦˥]

Noun

giới tính

1. binary gender

   Giới tính: Nam / Nữ

   Gender: Male / Female

2. (rare) gender identity
3. biological sex

   giáo dục giới tính

   sex education

Usage notes

Nonbinary gender and identities are yet to be widely accepted in Vietnam. When it comes to giới tính, especially in forms, there are only two options.

See also

• chuyển giới