kính

Level ≈A2 (approx.) nounverbprefix Sino-Vietnamese Top 1,000 most common

Hanoi [kïŋ˧˦]Huế [kɨn˦˧˥]Saigon [kɨn˦˥] browser voice

Syllables · tones

kínhrisingsắc

Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →

kính means glass that comes in thinnish; flattish sheets; used to make doors.

Chinese characters: 鏡

Meanings of kính in English

Noun

glass that comes in thinnish, flattish sheets (as opposed to, for example, a thick block or a globular shape), used to make doors, windows, eyewear, lenses, etc.; compare thuỷ tinh (“glass as a substance in general”)
- kính làm bằng thuỷ tinh"sheet glass" is made of "glass"

Noun

eyeglasses
Southern Vietnam synonym of gương (“mirror”) ≈ gương

Verb

rare, in set phrases to respect
- kính trên, nhường dướito respect the elderly and consider the young

Prefix

honorific, before verbs respectfully; cordially
- Kính chào quý khách.Greetings.
- Kính mời ngài đến dự tiệc cưới của con chúng tôi.You are cordially invited to our children's wedding.
- Kính chúc ông bà mạnh khoẻ, sống lâu.We wish you good health and a long life.

Noun

in compounds path, trait; diameter

Words with kính

Idioms and sayings with kính

kính lão đắc thọ — if you respect the elderly, you'll extend your lifespan
kính nhi viễn chi — to respect yet keep one's distance; to respectfully distance oneself

Example sentences with kính

Kính của bạn đã rơi trên sàn. Your glasses fell on the floor.
Tấm kính rơi xuống nhưng không vỡ. The glass fell but it did not break.
Cô ấy đã bỏ kính ra. She removed her glasses.
Cô ấy tháo kính ra. She removed her glasses.
Anh ấy đeo kính lên. He put glasses on.
Hãy cẩn thận với cửa kính trước mặt bạn. Be careful of the glass door in front of you.
Tôi không thể nhìn rõ nếu không có kính. I can't see well without my glasses.
Tôi đã để quên kính của mình ở đâu đó. I forgot my glasses somewhere.

Bilingual example sentences from Tatoeba (tatoeba.org, CC BY 2.0 FR).

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 鏡 (“mirror”). Doublet of gương.

Frequently asked questions

What does kính mean in English?

kính (noun) means "glass that comes in thinnish; flattish sheets; used to make doors".

How do you pronounce kính?

IPA: Hanoi [kïŋ˧˦]; Saigon [kɨn˦˥]. Tones: kính — rising tone (sắc).

Is kính a Sino-Vietnamese word?

Yes. kính is a Sino-Vietnamese word from the Chinese characters 鏡.

Meanings, pronunciation and etymology from English Wiktionary (wiktionary.org, via kaikki.org; CC BY-SA 4.0), reviewed and edited; example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). IPA shown for three accents: Hanoi (Northern), Huế (Central) and Saigon (Southern). The Listen button uses your browser's Vietnamese voice, for reference only. Levels are approximate, estimated from word frequency. Spotted a mistake? Let NgonNgu know.