bận
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
bận means time; occurrence.
Meanings of bận in English
Noun
- literary time; occurrence
Verb
- Central Vietnam, Southern Vietnam to wear (clothes)
Verb
- to get occupied doing something
Words with bận
Synonyms and antonyms of bận
Antonyms
Example sentences with bận
- Cô ấy đang rất bận đan đồ. She was very busy knitting.
- Chị ấy lúc nào cũng rất bận. She is always busy.
- Bạn hình như bận hơn mọi khi. You seem more busy than usual.
- Tôi nghĩ Tom và Mary đều bận. I think both Tom and Mary are busy.
- Bạn không thấy tôi đang bận à? Don't you see that I'm busy?
- Tom nói là anh ấy bận. Tom says that he's busy.
- Tôi sẽ bận suốt từ trưa. I'll be busy all afternoon.
- Tom nói là Mary rất bận. Tom said that Mary is very busy.
Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).
Historical script (chữ Nôm / Hán)
Before the Latin alphabet (chữ Quốc ngữ) became standard, bận could be written as 𢏑, 絆, 𥾽, 𦁂. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Usage note: bận
bận means "busy" — and it is a useful word for politely declining.
- Hôm nay tôi bận lắm. — I'm really busy today.
- Anh có bận không? — Are you busy? (before asking for help)
- Xin lỗi, mai em bận rồi. — Sorry, I'm busy tomorrow.
In the South, bận also means "to wear" (clothes), like mặc: Bận đồ vô đi! — Get dressed! And một bận can mean "one time, once": đi một bận — go once.
Compound: bận rộn — busy, hectic: cuộc sống bận rộn — a busy life. bận tâm — to worry, be bothered: Đừng bận tâm. — Don't worry about it.
Opposite: rảnh — free (not busy): Cuối tuần anh rảnh không? — Are you free at the weekend?
Tone note: bận (heavy) vs bấn (in bấn loạn, panicked) vs bần (poor, in bần cùng).
Etymology
Cognate with Muong Bi pẫn.
Frequently asked questions
What does bận mean in English?
bận (noun) means "time; occurrence".
How do you pronounce bận?
IPA: Hanoi [ʔɓən˧˨ʔ]; Saigon [ʔɓəŋ˨˩˨]. Tones: bận — heavy tone (nặng).