# Làm bằng: made of in Vietnamese (A2)

> You know bằng for the thing you use: đi bằng xe buýt, viết bằng tiếng Việt. The same word says what something is made of.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/bang-material/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**made of**

Pattern: `[thing] + (làm) bằng + [material]`

Level: A2 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: lam bang

You know *bằng* for the thing you use: *đi bằng xe buýt*, *viết bằng tiếng Việt*. The same word says what something is made of. Put the thing first, then *bằng* and the material: *Cái bàn này bằng gỗ.* This table is made of wood.

*Làm bằng*, "made of", says the same a little more fully, and it's just as common: *Cái túi này làm bằng da.* This bag is made of leather. No *là* goes in front; *bằng* already means "is made of".

To ask, put *gì* where the material goes: *Cái này làm bằng gì?* What's this made of? For food, and other things made from an ingredient, you'll also hear *làm từ* (made from): *Bánh này làm từ bột gạo.* This cake is made from rice flour.

When you simply name a thing, the material often follows the noun with no *bằng* at all: *ghế nhựa* (a plastic chair), *nhà gỗ* (a wooden house). Use *bằng* when the material is the point, because you're asking about it or telling someone.

Don't confuse it with *bằng* after an adjective, which compares: *cao bằng nhau*, the same height.

## Examples

- Cái bàn này bằng gỗ. — This table is made of wood.
- Saigon: Cái túi này làm bằng gì vậy chị? | Hà Nội: Cái túi này làm bằng gì thế chị? — What's this bag made of?
- Saigon: Bằng da thật đó em. | Hà Nội: Bằng da thật đấy em. — It's real leather.
- Saigon: Ly này bằng nhựa, không bể đâu. | Hà Nội: Cốc này bằng nhựa, không vỡ đâu. — This cup is plastic, so it won't break.

## Compare

- [By, with, in: bằng (transport, tool, language)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/bang-by-means/): by / with / in
- [As … as: bằng / như](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/bang-nhu-as-as/): as … as

Previous in Places and movement: [For, towards, as for: đối với](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/doi-voi/)
Next in Places and movement: [Moving in a direction: ra, vô / vào, lên, xuống, về, qua, tới](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/direction-verbs/)

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