Signification
Fixing a broken bike.
Contexte culturel
The 'bác sửa xe' is a cultural icon. They often work on the sidewalk with very few tools, demonstrating the Vietnamese spirit of 'vượt khó' (overcoming difficulties). In big cities like Saigon, bicycle repair is becoming a niche hobby for 'fixed gear' enthusiasts, moving from a necessity to a lifestyle choice. In the countryside, knowing how to 'sửa xe đạp' is still a basic life skill for children who cycle long distances to school. During the war, bicycles were modified (sửa lại) to carry hundreds of kilograms of supplies on the Ho Chi Minh trail.
Look for the sign
If you see a sign that just says 'Sửa Xe', it usually covers both bikes and motorbikes.
Tone Alert
Be careful with 'Sửa'. If you say 'Sữa', people will think you are talking about bicycle milk!
Signification
Fixing a broken bike.
Look for the sign
If you see a sign that just says 'Sửa Xe', it usually covers both bikes and motorbikes.
Tone Alert
Be careful with 'Sửa'. If you say 'Sữa', people will think you are talking about bicycle milk!
Be Specific
If you just have a flat tire, say 'Vá xe' instead of 'Sửa xe đạp' to sound more like a local.
Address the Mechanic
Always call the mechanic 'Chú' (Uncle) or 'Anh' (Older Brother) to get better service.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct verb for fixing a bike.
Tôi đang ___ xe đạp ở sân sau.
'Sửa' is the correct verb with the correct tone (hỏi).
Which sentence is the most natural for asking a mechanic to fix your bike?
How do you ask for help?
Option B is polite and uses the correct collocation.
Match the Vietnamese phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are all related to bicycle maintenance.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Xe đạp của em bị làm sao thế? B: Dạ, nó bị tuột xích, em đang ____.
If the chain is dropped, you need to fix it.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Common Bike Problems
Tires
- • Thủng lốp
- • Xì hơi
Chain
- • Tuột xích
- • Đứt xích
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesTôi đang ___ xe đạp ở sân sau.
'Sửa' is the correct verb with the correct tone (hỏi).
How do you ask for help?
Option B is polite and uses the correct collocation.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are all related to bicycle maintenance.
A: Xe đạp của em bị làm sao thế? B: Dạ, nó bị tuột xích, em đang ____.
If the chain is dropped, you need to fix it.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, although motorbikes are more common, many people still use bikes for exercise and school, so repair shops are everywhere.
It's very cheap. Patching a tire (vá xe) usually costs 10,000 - 20,000 VND ($0.40 - $0.80).
Yes, 'sửa máy tính' is correct. 'Sửa' is a very versatile verb.
'Sửa' is the common verb. 'Chữa' is often used for medicine (chữa bệnh) or in the formal compound 'sửa chữa'.
Tipping is not expected at small roadside stalls, but you can round up the change.
You say 'Xe đạp của tôi bị tuột xích' or 'bị hỏng xích'.
Yes, but in slang, people sometimes call it 'con ngựa sắt' (the iron horse).
Yes, a person who does this is a 'thợ sửa xe đạp'.
Use 'bảo trì xe đạp'.
It is always 'sửa xe đạp' (Verb + Object).
Expressions liées
Vá săm
specialized formPatching an inner tube
Bảo trì xe
similarVehicle maintenance
Sửa xe máy
similarFixing a motorbike
Chế xe
builds onModifying a bike
Học sửa xe
builds onLearning to fix vehicles
