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vịnh cảng
/vɨ̰jŋ̟ kǎːŋ/
harbor
Thành phố này nổi tiếng với vịnh cảng rộng lớn.
This city is famous for its large harbor.
formal
A sheltered body of water where ships can anchor safely, typically part of a port or coastal city.
Vịnh cảng Hải Phòng là một trong những vịnh cảng quan trọng nhất của Việt Nam.
Haiphong harbor is one of the most important harbors in Vietnam.
Tàu cập bến vịnh cảng lúc bình minh.
The ship docked in the harbor at dawn.
Used specifically for natural or man-made harbors that serve as docking areas for ships. Not to be confused with 'bến cảng' (port/wharf), which refers to the infrastructure itself.
Collocations
vịnh cảng tự nhiênnatural harborvịnh cảng nhân tạoartificial harborvịnh cảng thương mạicommercial harborvịnh cảng an toànsafe harbor
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing 'vịnh cảng' from 'bến cảng'
'Vịnh cảng' refers to the natural harbor area itself, while 'bến cảng' refers to the port facilities or infrastructure within the harbor. For example, 'vịnh cảng Đà Nẵng' is the natural harbor, but 'bến cảng Đà Nẵng' refers to the port buildings and docks.
Gold Rule
Usage in maritime geography
Always use 'vịnh cảng' when describing the geographical feature of a sheltered harbor, especially in contexts like navigation, tourism, or coastal geography.
Word Origin
The term 'vịnh' derives from Sino-Vietnamese 'vịnh' (灣), meaning 'bay' or 'gulf'. 'Cảng' comes from Sino-Vietnamese 'cảng' (港), meaning 'port' or 'harbor'. Together, they form a compound noun describing a harbor within a bay.
Usage Notes
In Vietnamese, 'vịnh cảng' emphasizes the natural sheltered aspect of the harbor, often used in geographical or maritime contexts. For urban or commercial port areas, 'bến cảng' or 'cảng biển' may be more commonly used.
Word Breakdown
vịnh
bay or gulf (natural sheltered water body)
rootcảng
port or harbor (man-made or natural docking area)
rootTừ Điển Việt Anh