How to Use the Vietnamese Classifier 'bát' / 'tô' (bowl)
'bát' and 'tô' both mean 'bowl' and are used for servings of rice, soup, noodles, and similar foods.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'bát' and 'tô' both mean 'bowl' and are used for servings of rice, soup, noodles, and similar foods.
English meanings
- bowl
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Tôi ăn một bát cơm.
I eat a bowl of rice.
2
Anh ấy gọi một tô phở bò.
He ordered a bowl of beef noodle soup.
How to use it
'bát' is usually smaller, 'tô' is larger, but both refer to a serving in a bowl. Common combinations include 'bát cơm' (bowl of rice), 'bát canh' (bowl of soup), and 'tô phở' (large bowl of noodle soup). Do not confuse food portions in bowls with drinks, which use 'ly'/'cốc'.
- 'bát cơm', 'bát canh' are common combinations.
- 'tô' is often used for larger bowls of noodles or soup.
- Drinks use 'ly'/'cốc', not 'bát'/'tô'.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English says 'a bowl of rice', 'a bowl of soup', 'a bowl of noodles'. Vietnamese uses 'bát' or 'tô' for these, depending on size and region.
Common mistakes
một ly cơm
một bát cơm
Rice is measured by the bowl, so use 'bát'.
một tô cà phê
một ly cà phê
Coffee is measured by the cup, so use 'ly' or 'cốc'.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which means 'a bowl of rice'?
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which means 'a bowl of rice'?
- một bát cơm
- một ly cơm
- một con cơm
Answer: một bát cơm
Explanation: Rice is usually measured by the bowl, using 'bát'.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi ăn một ____ cơm.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi ăn một ____ cơm.
Answer: Tôi ăn một bát cơm.
Explanation: 'bát cơm', 'bát canh' are common combinations.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I eat a bowl of rice." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "I eat a bowl of rice." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Tôi ăn một bát cơm.
Explanation: Use bát / tô in the same structure as the example.
True or false
'bát' / 'tô' can replace all English measure words like 'piece', 'cup', or 'item'.
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True or false
'bát' / 'tô' can replace all English measure words like 'piece', 'cup', or 'item'.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vietnamese classifiers are paired with specific nouns and cannot be substituted for all English measure words.
Correction
Correct this: Tôi ăn một ly cơm.
Show answer
Correction
Correct this: Tôi ăn một ly cơm.
Answer: Tôi ăn một bát cơm.
Explanation: 'cơm' (rice) is measured by the bowl, so use 'bát'.