# cây meaning in Vietnamese: tree (A1)

> cây means “tree, plant” in Vietnamese. It can also mean for long objects, kilometre. Examples with audio, in Northern and Southern wording.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/cay-tree/ · Updated 2026-10-31

**cây**: tree · for long objects · kilometre

Level: A1 (our estimate)

Typed without accents: cay

## 1. tree (noun)

tree, plant

- Trước nhà có một cây lớn. — There's a big tree in front of the house.
- Nhà chị có nhiều cây quá! — You have so many plants!

Level: A1

## 2. for long objects (classifier)

The classifier for plants and for long, thin things: *cây viết* a pen, *cây dù* an umbrella, *cây chuối* a banana tree. Saigon uses it more than Hà Nội, which often says *cái* or *chiếc*.

- Saigon: Cho tui mượn cây viết nha. | Hà Nội: Cho tôi mượn cái bút nhé. — Can I borrow a pen?
- Saigon: Trời mưa rồi, em đem cây dù theo nha. | Hà Nội: Trời mưa rồi, em mang cái ô theo nhé. — It's raining, so take an umbrella with you.

Level: A2

Grammar: [Which classifier: cái for things, con for animals, người for people, and the common others](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/clf-cai-chiec/)

## 3. kilometre (noun)

kilometre, km

Short for *cây số*, in casual speech.

- Từ đây tới chợ khoảng hai cây. — It's about two kilometers from here to the market.
- Saigon: Còn mấy cây nữa vậy anh? | Hà Nội: Còn mấy cây nữa thế anh? — How many more kilometers is it?

Level: A2 · casual

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