How to Use the Vietnamese Classifier 'ly' / 'cốc' (cup/glass)
'ly' and 'cốc' both mean 'cup' or 'glass' and are used to count drinks or drinking vessels.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'ly' and 'cốc' both mean 'cup' or 'glass' and are used to count drinks or drinking vessels.
English meanings
- cup
- glass
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Tôi muốn một ly cà phê sữa đá.
I want an iced milk coffee.
2
Bạn uống một cốc nước nhé.
Have a glass of water.
How to use it
'ly'/'cốc' can refer to the cup itself or to a serving of a drink, such as 'một ly cà phê' (a cup of coffee) or 'một cốc nước' (a glass of water). Regional preferences differ, but both are widely understood. Do not use 'chén' for drinks; 'chén'/'bát' are more for bowls or food.
- Both 'ly' and 'cốc' are common for ordering drinks.
- 'ly' is more common in the South, 'cốc' in the North, but both are understood.
- To refer to the cup as an object, use 'cái cốc'.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English says 'a cup of coffee', 'a glass of water'. Vietnamese uses 'ly' or 'cốc' for drinks. For the object 'cup', you might also see 'cái cốc' in Vietnamese.
Common mistakes
một bát cà phê
một ly cà phê
Coffee is measured by the cup, so use 'ly' or 'cốc'.
một ly cơm
một bát cơm
Rice is measured by the bowl, so use 'bát' or 'tô', not 'ly'.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which is most natural for ordering 'a cup of coffee'?
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which is most natural for ordering 'a cup of coffee'?
- một ly cà phê
- một bát cà phê
- một con cà phê
Answer: một ly cà phê
Explanation: Drinks are usually measured with 'ly' or 'cốc'.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi muốn một ____ cà phê sữa đá.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi muốn một ____ cà phê sữa đá.
Answer: Tôi muốn một ly cà phê sữa đá.
Explanation: Both 'ly' and 'cốc' are common for drinks.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I want an iced milk coffee." into Vietnamese.
Show answer
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I want an iced milk coffee." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Tôi muốn một ly cà phê sữa đá.
Explanation: Use ly / cốc in the same structure as the example.
True or false
'ly' / 'cốc' can replace all English measure words like 'piece', 'cup', or 'item'.
Show answer
True or false
'ly' / 'cốc' 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 muốn một bát cà phê.
Show answer
Correction
Correct this: Tôi muốn một bát cà phê.
Answer: Tôi muốn một ly cà phê.
Explanation: Coffee is a drink and uses 'ly' or 'cốc', not 'bát'.