Vietnamese Body Parts — Essential Vocabulary
Body part vocabulary is essential for healthcare situations, visiting a doctor or pharmacy in Vietnam, describing pain or injury, and understanding everyday expressions. Many Vietnamese idioms and proverbs reference specific body parts metaphorically — knowing the vocabulary unlocks a deeper layer of the language.
Head and Face — Đầu và Mặt
đầudowhead
tóctokhair
mặtmahtface (also: dignity, honour in social contexts)
mắtmahteye(s)
taitaiear(s)
mũimooinose
miệngmyengmouth
răngrangteeth / tooth
lưỡiluoitongue
môimoilip(s)
cằmgamchin
mámahcheek (same word as Southern "mother" — different tone!)
trántranforehead
cổgohneck / throat
Body — Thân Thể
vaivaishoulder(s)
cánh taygang tayarm
bàn tayban tayhand
ngón tayngon tayfinger(s)
ngựcngukchest
bụngbungstomach / belly
lưnglungback
chânchunleg / foot
đầu gốidow goiknee
bàn chânban chunfoot
ngón chânngon chuntoe(s)
Describing Pain and Health Problems
The pattern "bị đau + body part" covers most pain situations a traveller might need to describe:
Tôi bị đau đầutoy bee dow dowI have a headache
Tôi bị đau bụngtoy bee dow bungI have a stomachache
Tôi bị đau răngtoy bee dow rangI have a toothache
Tôi bị đau lưngtoy bee dow lungI have a backache
Tôi bị đau họngtoy bee dow hongI have a sore throat
Cơ thể tôi...guh theh toyMy body... (start of describing symptoms)