/kaː/
nounBeginner
formal

Fish (general term for aquatic animals with gills and fins)

Cá là nguồn protein quan trọng trong chế độ ăn uống của nhiều người.

Fish is an important protein source in the diet of many people.

💡

Can refer to both freshwater and saltwater fish.

informal

A term used in Vietnamese cuisine to refer to fish as an ingredient

Mẹ mua cá tươi về nấu canh.

Mom bought fresh fish to make soup.

Collocations

cá biểnsaltwater fishcá nước ngọtfreshwater fishcá tươifresh fish

Synonyms

Related Phrases

cá mậpphrase
shark
cá voiphrase
whale

💡Pro Tip

Fish Dishes

In Vietnamese cuisine, 'cá' is often used in dishes like 'cá kho tộ' (braised fish in a clay pot) or 'cá nướng' (grilled fish).

Gold Rule

General Term

'Cá' is a general term and should be specified with adjectives for clarity (e.g., 'cá biển' for saltwater fish).

📖Word Origin

From Proto-Vietic *kaː (fish), cognate with Muong cá, Chut cá, and other related languages.

📝Usage Notes

In Vietnamese, 'cá' is a general term that can be specified with modifiers like 'cá biển' (saltwater fish) or 'cá nước ngọt' (freshwater fish).

Word Breakdown

fish
root
Từ Điển Việt Anh