In Vietnamese, cái is the most commonly used measure word. It:
- Is the (only valid) measure word for many nouns (indeed the most out of all the measure words).
- Serves as an alternative measure word for a fairly large number of nouns.
- Can also be used for any noun in case you don’t know or don’t remember the correct measure word for it (note that it will sound unnatural and is a dead giveaway of non-native speakers).
Basic usage
Place cái between the number and the noun to specify quantity.
Structure
number + cái + noun
Examples
- Một cái hộpOne box
- Ba cái ghếThree chairs
- 120 cái điện thoại120 phones
- Tôi muốn mua sáu cái bát.I want to buy six bowls.
- Hai cái bàn là đủ.Two tables are enough.
Omitting the number
If the number is one (1), it can be omitted, leaving cái by itself. This is similar to “a” or “an” in English, as in “an apple” or “a banana”.
Structure
cái + noun
Examples
- Đưa cho tôi cái thìa.Give me a spoon.