chiếc

Vietnamese

Etymology

Non-Sino-Vietnamese reading of Chinese 隻 (“classifier; single, alone”, SV: chích). Possibly doublet of chách.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕiək̚˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕiək̚˦˧˥]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ciək̚˦˥]

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Classifier

chiếc • (隻)

1. (formal or literary) Indicates generic inanimate tangible things

   Synonym: cái

   Chiếc lược ngà ― The Ivory Comb

2. (colloquial) Indicates popular vehicles, such as bicycles, motorcycles, cars, etc.

   Synonym: con

   Nó có hai chiếc xe máy.

   He's got two motorcycles.

Usage notes

• As a classifier, chiếc is usually considered as a formal, or even literary, counterpart to cái. It is mostly used colloquially when indicating some types of vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, cars, etc.
• Also note that only cái can be used to indicate zoological body parts, except for teeth.

Derived terms

• đơn chiếc