nước

/nɯək/
water

Tôi muốn uống nước.

I want to drink water.


general

The clear liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms.

Nước là nguồn sống quan trọng nhất trên Trái Đất.

Water is the most important source of life on Earth.

This is the most common meaning of 'nước' in Vietnamese.

general

A liquid similar to water, such as juice or other beverages.

Tôi thích uống nước cam.

I like to drink orange juice.

In this context, 'nước' refers to any drinkable liquid.

culinary

A liquid used for cooking or as an ingredient in a dish.

Nước dùng trong món canh rất ngon.

The broth in the soup is very delicious.

This refers to liquids like broth, sauce, or soup.

household

A liquid used for cleaning or washing.

Tôi cần mua nước rửa chén.

I need to buy dishwashing liquid.

This refers to cleaning liquids like soap or detergent.

Medicine
Medical

A liquid used for medical or cosmetic purposes.

Nước tẩy trắng da rất tốt.

The skin whitening liquid is very effective.

This refers to liquids like medicine, lotion, or serum.

Collocations

nước uốngdrinkable waternước ngọtsweet waternước mắmfish saucenước hoaperfumenước mắttears

Pro Tip

Context Matters

The meaning of 'nước' can vary greatly depending on the context. Pay attention to the surrounding words to determine the exact meaning.

Gold Rule

Primary Meaning

The most common meaning of 'nước' is 'water', especially in natural contexts like rivers, lakes, and rain.

Word Origin

The word 'nước' comes from the Sino-Vietnamese word 'nước' (水), which means 'water'. It is a basic and fundamental word in the Vietnamese language.

Usage Notes

The word 'nước' is extremely versatile and can refer to various types of liquids depending on the context. It is one of the most commonly used words in Vietnamese.

Word Breakdown

nước
water
root
Từ Điển Việt Anh