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cá
/kaː˧˦/
fish
Tôi thích ăn cá.
I like to eat fish.
general
A cold-blooded aquatic vertebrate animal with gills, fins, and typically scales.
Con cá vàng bơi lội trong bể.
The goldfish is swimming in the tank.
Anh ấy câu được một con cá to.
He caught a big fish.
In Vietnamese, 'cá' can refer to any fish species, including both edible and ornamental types.
culinary
The flesh of fish used as food.
Món cá nướng thơm ngon quá!
The grilled fish smells so good!
Often used in dishes like cá kho (braised fish) or cá chiên (fried fish).
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Pluralization
'Cá' is both singular and plural in Vietnamese. For clarity, you can add a number (e.g., 'hai con cá' for 'two fish') or a classifier like 'con' (for animals).
Gold Rule
Classifier Usage
Always use a classifier when counting fish (e.g., 'một con cá' for 'one fish', 'ba con cá' for 'three fish').
Word Origin
From Proto-Vietic *k-ɟaːʔ, ultimately from Proto-Mon-Khmer *kaʔ.
Usage Notes
'Cá' is a generic term for fish and does not distinguish between species unless specified (e.g., cá chép for carp, cá trắm for grass carp). In Southern Vietnam, 'tôm cá' is sometimes used to refer to seafood broadly.
Word Breakdown
cá
fish
rootTừ Điển Việt Anh