# mất meaning in Vietnamese: to take (time) (A1)

> mất means “to take (time)” in Vietnamese. It can also mean lose, pass away. Examples with audio, in Northern and Southern wording.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/mat-take/ · Updated 2026-10-18

**mất**: take · lose · pass away

Level: A1 (our estimate)

Typed without accents: mat

## 1. take (verb)

to take (time)

- Saigon: Từ nhà em tới trường mất mười phút. | Hà Nội: Từ nhà em đến trường mất mười phút. — It takes ten minutes from my house to school.
- Làm cái này mất bao lâu? — How long does this take?

Level: A1

Grammar: [It takes (time): mất](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/mat-time-takes/)

## 2. lose (verb)

Losing something you had; losing a game is *thua*.

- Saigon: Em mất bóp rồi! | Hà Nội: Em mất ví rồi! — I've lost my wallet!
- Nhà em mất điện rồi. — We've had a power cut at home.

Level: A1

## 3. pass away (verb)

to pass away, to die

The gentle way to say someone has died; *chết* is blunt.

- Ông ngoại em mất năm ngoái. — My grandfather passed away last year.
- Bà ấy mất lâu rồi. — She passed away a long time ago.

Level: A2 · polite

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