bằng

Meanings

Highlighted words are what Saigon and Hà Nội say differently.

1. by means of

   preposition

   by, with, in (a language)

   Goes before what you use: đi bằng xe buýt, by bus; nói bằng tiếng Việt, in Vietnamese. With a person, 'with' is với.

   • Chị đi làm bằng xe máy.

     I go to work by motorbike.

   • Anh nói bằng tiếng Việt được không?

     Can you say it in Vietnamese?

   A1Grammar: By, with, in: bằng (transport, tool, language)

2. equal

   verb

   as … as, to equal

   After an adjective: cao bằng ba, as tall as Dad. In sums it is 'equals'.

   • Em cao bằng anh rồi.

     You're as tall as me now.

   • Hai cộng hai bằng bốn.

     Two plus two equals four.

   A2Grammar: As … as: bằng / như

3. made of

   preposition

   made of, of

   • Nhà này bằng gỗ.

     This house is made of wood.

   • Saigon

     Cái ly này bằng gì vậy?

     Hà Nội

     Cái cốc này bằng gì thế?

     What's this glass made of?

   A2