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tiền
/ti̯ən˧˧/
money
Tôi cần tiền để mua sách.
I need money to buy books.
formal
A medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes; currency.
Anh ấy kiếm được nhiều tiền từ công việc kinh doanh.
He earns a lot of money from his business.
In Vietnamese, 'tiền' is used broadly for any form of money, including cash, coins, or digital currency.
formal
Wealth or financial resources.
Gia đình họ không có nhiều tiền.
Their family doesn't have much money.
formal
A sum of money paid for goods or services.
Tôi đã trả tiền cho bữa ăn tối.
I paid the money for the dinner.
Collocations
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Mastering 'tiền' in compound words
Learn common compounds with 'tiền' early, as they are essential for daily conversations. Examples: tiền bạc (money), tiền mặt (cash), tiền lương (salary), tiền thưởng (bonus).
Gold Rule
Use 'tiền' for general money
Use 'tiền' as the default word for money in most contexts unless referring to a specific type (e.g., 'tiền mặt' for cash).
Word Origin
From Middle Chinese 錢 (MC tsjen, 'money, coin'). Compare with Cantonese 錢 (cin4), Mandarin 钱 (qián), and Korean 돈 (don).
Usage Notes
'Tiền' is a core term in Vietnamese finances and daily life. It is used in compound words for specific types of money (e.g., tiền mặt = cash, tiền lương = salary). In informal speech, 'bạc' can sometimes replace 'tiền' for brevity.
Từ Điển Việt Anh