bể
Hanoi [ʔɓe˧˩]Huế [ʔɓej˧˨]Saigon [ʔɓej˨˩˦] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
bể means some small water bodies; reserves or containers; a lake.
Classifier: cái — e.g. một cái bể (one some small water bodies)
Meanings of bể in English
Noun
- some small water bodies, reserves or containers; a lake, a pool, a water reserve, a water tank, etc.
- bể bơia swimming pool
- bể nướca water tank
Verb
- to break, to be broken
Adjective
- Southern Vietnam broken into pieces ≈ vỡ
Noun
- archaic, in mainstream Vietnamese dialects sea, ocean
Words with bể
Idioms and sayings with bể
- bên trời góc bể — remote place; faraway
Example sentences with bể
- Thứ gì đó đã bị vỡ/bể. Something's broken.
- Bình hoa mà nó làm bể là của dì tôi. The vase she broke is my aunt's.
- Tao đã làm bể đồ gạt tàn thuốc của mày rồi. I broke your ashtray.
- 500 Đô-la đối với anh ấy chỉ như muối bỏ bể thôi. Five hundred dollars is a small sum for him.
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, bể could be written as 𣷭, 波, 𤅶, 𢯏. Today Vietnamese is written only in the Latin alphabet.
Etymology
From Proto-Vietic *peh ~ *pes.
Frequently asked questions
What does bể mean in English?
bể (noun) means "some small water bodies; reserves or containers; a lake".
How do you pronounce bể?
IPA: Hanoi [ʔɓe˧˩]; Saigon [ʔɓej˨˩˦]. Tones: bể — dipping tone (hỏi).
What classifier is used with bể?
Common classifiers: cái — for example "một cái bể" (one some small water bodies).