Definition

Noun: * Ship, boat: A large watercraft designed for travel or transport on water. This is the general term for any vessel that navigates on the surface of water, from large ocean-going ships to smaller boats.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Tàu thủy chở hàng đang cập cảng. (The cargo ship is docking at the port.)
  • Chúng tôi đi du lịch bằng tàu thủy. (We traveled by boat/ship.)
  • Tàu thủy đánh cá trở về sau chuyến ra khơi. (The fishing boat returned after the offshore trip.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "tàu thủy" is a general, formal, and somewhat technical term. In everyday conversation, Vietnamese speakers often use the simpler word "tàu" to mean ship/boat, or more specific terms like "thuyền" (small boat, sampan), "du thuyền" (yacht), or "tàu chiến" (warship).

Variants and Related Words

• Tàu (n): A common shorter form for "tàu thủy," meaning ship or boat. Also used for trains ("tàu hỏa").
• Thuyền (n): Typically refers to smaller boats, such as rowboats, sailboats, or traditional sampans.
• Tàu đánh cá (n): Fishing boat.
• Tàu chở hàng / Tàu hàng (n): Cargo ship, freighter.
• Tàu du lịch / Du thuyền (n): Cruise ship / yacht.
• Tàu chiến (n): Warship.

Synonyms

• Tàu bè (n): A collective term for ships and boats, vessels.
• Thuyền bè (n): A collective term for (smaller) boats and vessels.

Related Phrases

• Hải trình của tàu thủy: The ship's itinerary/voyage.
• Đóng tàu thủy: To build a ship.
• Vận tải bằng tàu thủy: Transport by ship.

noun

1. ship, boat
   • Tàu chuyên dùng bắt tôm