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bánh
/ba̤ŋ˧˥/
cake
Tôi thích ăn bánh.
I like to eat cake.
general
A sweet or savory baked good made from flour, often eaten as a snack or dessert.
Bữa sáng hôm nay có bánh mì và bánh ngọt.
Today's breakfast has bread and pastry.
Cô ấy nướng bánh sinh nhật cho tôi.
She baked a birthday cake for me.
Can refer to both sweet and savory items, including bread, pastries, or rice-based cakes. Often combined with other words to specify type (e.g., bánh mì = bread, bánh cuốn = steamed rice rolls).
Collocations
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Common Combinations
Pay attention to how 'bánh' is combined with other words. For example, 'bánh mì' is bread (not cake), while 'bánh ngọt' is a sweet cake. This pattern is common in Vietnamese cuisine.
Gold Rule
Bread vs. Cake
In Vietnamese, 'bánh' can mean both bread and cake depending on context. 'Bánh mì' is bread, while 'bánh ngọt' is cake. Always check the full phrase for clarity.
Word Origin
From Proto-Vietic *ɓaːŋʔ, ultimately from Proto-Mon-Khmer *ɓaːŋʔ ('cake, bread'). Related to Muong *bẳng* and Chut *pang*.
Usage Notes
In Vietnamese cuisine, 'bánh' is a broad term covering many types of cakes, breads, and pastries. It is often combined with other words to specify the type (e.g., bánh chuối = banana cake, bánh chưng = sticky rice cake). The term can also refer to savory dishes like bánh xèo (pancake).
Word Breakdown
bánh
cake/bread
rootTừ Điển Việt Anh