Bedeutung
Congestion of vehicles on road.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Traffic jams are often caused by 'triều cường' (high tide) or heavy rain in cities like Saigon, where streets flood and motorbikes stall. The term 'kẹt xe' is the dominant term here. People are generally patient but will use the sidewalk (vỉa hè) to bypass the jam. While 'kẹt xe' is understood, 'tắc đường' is the local preference. Traffic in Hanoi is often described as more 'interwoven' and dense. Young people use 'kẹt xe' as a common theme for memes and TikTok videos, often showing the 'sea of motorbikes' from a high-rise view.
The 'Bị' Rule
Always use 'bị' before 'kẹt xe' when talking about yourself to sound like a native.
Regional Awareness
If you are in Hanoi, try using 'tắc đường' to blend in better, though 'kẹt xe' is fine.
Bedeutung
Congestion of vehicles on road.
The 'Bị' Rule
Always use 'bị' before 'kẹt xe' when talking about yourself to sound like a native.
Regional Awareness
If you are in Hanoi, try using 'tắc đường' to blend in better, though 'kẹt xe' is fine.
Intensity
Use 'kẹt xe cứng ngắc' (stuck stiff) to describe a jam where no one is moving at all.
The Excuse
Don't be surprised if people are 15 minutes late and just say 'kẹt xe'—it's a socially accepted reality.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct word.
Sáng nay đường ___ quá, tôi không đi nhanh được.
Context refers to the road (đường) and speed (đi nhanh), so 'kẹt xe' is the only logical choice.
Which sentence is the most natural excuse for being late?
Why are you late?
We use 'bị' to show that the traffic jam is an external problem affecting us.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Alo, sao chưa tới nữa? B: ________, đợi mình 10 phút nhé!
'Kẹt xe cứng ngắc' is a common way to say traffic is totally stopped.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Traffic Intensity
Aufgabensammlung
3 AufgabenSáng nay đường ___ quá, tôi không đi nhanh được.
Context refers to the road (đường) and speed (đi nhanh), so 'kẹt xe' is the only logical choice.
Why are you late?
We use 'bị' to show that the traffic jam is an external problem affecting us.
A: Alo, sao chưa tới nữa? B: ________, đợi mình 10 phút nhé!
'Kẹt xe cứng ngắc' is a common way to say traffic is totally stopped.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, use 'đông người' or 'chật ních' for people. 'Kẹt xe' is only for vehicles.
Not necessarily, it's just more Northern. 'Ùn tắc' is the formal version.
Say 'Tôi đang bị kẹt xe.'
It means 'rush hour'—the time when kẹt xe is most common.
Yes, but usually it implies motorbikes and cars are involved too.
Yes, but they often prefer 'ùn tắc giao thông' for a more professional tone.
It means a total standstill where no vehicles can move at all.
Because 'bị' indicates an unpleasant experience happening to the speaker.
Yes, 'gây kẹt xe'. For example: 'Tai nạn gây kẹt xe.'
Rarely, as there aren't enough vehicles. They might say 'đông xe' during a festival.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Tắc đường
synonymTraffic jam (Northern dialect)
Ùn tắc giao thông
specialized formTraffic congestion (Formal)
Giờ cao điểm
similarRush hour
Đông xe
contrastCrowded with vehicles
Kẹt tiền
builds onShort on money
