Danh từ & Loại từA1

Classifiers

Q: When is Loại từ (Classifiers) used?

Classifiers are THE most distinctively Vietnamese grammar feature. When counting or pointing at nouns, you MUST insert a classifier between the number/demonstrative and the noun.

Q: How is Loại từ (Classifiers) formed?

Pattern: number + CLASSIFIER + noun. Một cái bàn = one [thing-classifier] table = a table. With demonstratives: CLASSIFIER + noun + này/đó/kia. Con mèo này = this cat. Cái bàn đó = that table. cái as default: When unsure, cái works for most inanimate objects. It's the safest choice!

Q: What are common mistakes with Loại từ (Classifiers)?

Omitting classifiers entirely or using the wrong one. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English has NO classifiers (except 'a piece of', 'a glass of'), so learners omit them: *một bàn instead of một cái bàn. This is the biggest structural difference. 🇩🇪 German speakers: German has grammatical gender (der/die/das) which is somewhat analogous — classifiers categorize nouns. But you can't skip them like you sometimes can German articles. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian has no classifiers and no articles. Double challenge: Vietnamese requires BOTH a number AND a classifier. *Два кошки ≠ *hai mèo — must be hai con mèo. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech also lacks classifiers. The concept is entirely foreign.

THE key Vietnamese grammar feature: cái, con, người, chiếc, cuốn, etc.

Learning Goal

Can use common Vietnamese classifiers (cái, con, người, cuốn) correctly with numbers and demonstratives

Exam Skills:Đọc hiểuNóiViết

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Tôi có hai con chó và ba con mèo.

I have two dogs and three cats.

Cho tôi một ly cà phê sữa đá.

Give me an iced coffee with milk.

Cái áo này đẹp quá!

This shirt is so beautiful!

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Loại từ — Classifiers

Classifiers are THE most distinctively Vietnamese grammar feature. When counting or pointing at nouns, you MUST insert a classifier between the number/demonstrative and the noun.

Classifier	Used for	Example
cái	General objects, things	một cái bàn (a table)
con	Animals, some objects	hai con mèo (two cats)
người	People	ba người bạn (three friends)
chiếc	Single items (vehicles, shoes)	một chiếc xe (a car)
cuốn/quyển	Books, notebooks	năm cuốn sách (five books)
cây	Long thin things, trees	một cây bút (a pen)
tờ	Flat things (paper, bills)	một tờ giấy (a sheet of paper)
ly/cốc	Cups/glasses (of liquid)	một ly cà phê (a cup of coffee)
bức	Pictures, paintings, walls	một bức tranh (a painting)

Pattern: number + CLASSIFIER + noun. Một cái bàn = one [thing-classifier] table = a table.

With demonstratives: CLASSIFIER + noun + này/đó/kia. Con mèo này = this cat. Cái bàn đó = that table.

cái as default: When unsure, cái works for most inanimate objects. It's the safest choice!

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Omitting classifiers entirely or using the wrong one. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English has NO classifiers (except 'a piece of', 'a glass of'), so learners omit them: *một bàn instead of một cái bàn. This is the biggest structural difference. 🇩🇪 German speakers: German has grammatical gender (der/die/das) which is somewhat analogous — classifiers categorize nouns. But you can't skip them like you sometimes can German articles.

Tôi có hai con chó và ba con mèo.

I have two dogs and three cats.

con = animal classifier. You MUST say hai CON chó, not *hai chó. Every counted animal needs con!

Cho tôi một ly cà phê sữa đá.

Give me an iced coffee with milk.

ly = glass/cup classifier. một ly cà phê = a glass of coffee. This is how you order drinks in Vietnam!

Cái áo này đẹp quá!

This shirt is so beautiful!

With demonstratives: classifier + noun + này/đó. Cái áo này = this shirt. The classifier cái comes BEFORE the noun, này comes AFTER.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

Classifiers

Loại từ — Classifiers

Common Error Patterns

Put it into practice

Frequently asked questions