Meaning
The act of bathing.
Cultural Background
Bathing late at night (tắm đêm) is culturally discouraged due to health fears. A special bath with coriander (lá mùi) is taken on the last day of the year. In the past, bathing in rivers or ponds was a communal social activity. Most apartments now have 'bình nóng lạnh' (water heaters), making 'tắm nước nóng' common year-round.
The 'Late Night' Warning
If a Vietnamese friend tells you 'Đừng đi tắm muộn', they are showing they care about your health.
Use 'đi' for intent
Always add 'đi' before 'tắm' to sound like a native speaker when announcing your plans.
Meaning
The act of bathing.
The 'Late Night' Warning
If a Vietnamese friend tells you 'Đừng đi tắm muộn', they are showing they care about your health.
Use 'đi' for intent
Always add 'đi' before 'tắm' to sound like a native speaker when announcing your plans.
Tắm vs. Bơi
Never say 'đi tắm' if you are going to a professional swimming competition.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to complete the daily routine.
Trời nóng quá, tôi muốn đi ___.
When it's hot (trời nóng), you want to bathe (tắm) to cool down.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'I'm going to shower'?
Select the correct option:
'Tôi đi tắm' is the standard declarative form.
Complete the dialogue.
Mẹ: Con đã ___ chưa? Con: Dạ, con tắm rồi.
The response 'con tắm rồi' indicates the question was about bathing.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You just finished a sweaty football match.
Bathing is the logical next step after physical activity.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Types of Tắm
Location
- • Nhà tắm
- • Biển
- • Sông
- • Suối
Method
- • Vòi sen
- • Bồn tắm
- • Dội gáo
Practice Bank
4 exercisesTrời nóng quá, tôi muốn đi ___.
When it's hot (trời nóng), you want to bathe (tắm) to cool down.
Select the correct option:
'Tôi đi tắm' is the standard declarative form.
Mẹ: Con đã ___ chưa? Con: Dạ, con tắm rồi.
The response 'con tắm rồi' indicates the question was about bathing.
You just finished a sweaty football match.
Bathing is the logical next step after physical activity.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt means both! Vietnamese uses the same phrase regardless of the equipment used.
No, that is a command. To be polite, say 'Mời sếp đi tắm' (if in a travel context) or avoid the topic.
It indicates the start of an action or movement toward a place (the bathroom).
It's just a more general, slightly more formal way to say 'wash up'.
It specifically means washing both your body and your hair.
Yes, it's a normal part of daily conversation, not taboo.
Say 'tắm nước lạnh'.
That means 'sunbathing'!
Yes, 'tắm cho chó'.
People sometimes say 'đi dội nước' (go pour water).
Related Phrases
tắm rửa
similarTo wash up generally
đi bơi
contrastTo go swimming
tắm biển
specialized formTo bathe in the sea
gội đầu
builds onTo wash hair
nhà tắm
similarBathroom
