Meaning
Doing the laundry.
Cultural Background
Hanging clothes out to dry is a daily ritual. People often check the weather forecast specifically to decide when to 'giặt đồ'. In some villages, washing clothes by the river or a communal well is still a social activity where news is shared. Small 'tiệm giặt ủi' are everywhere in cities like Saigon and Hanoi, serving students and workers who don't have space for a machine. Doing laundry for the whole family is traditionally seen as an act of care and affection by the matriarch.
The 'Fabric' Rule
If it's made of cloth (towels, curtains, shirts), always use 'giặt'.
Avoid 'Rửa'
Using 'rửa đồ' for laundry is one of the most common signs of a beginner. Avoid it to sound more natural.
Meaning
Doing the laundry.
The 'Fabric' Rule
If it's made of cloth (towels, curtains, shirts), always use 'giặt'.
Avoid 'Rửa'
Using 'rửa đồ' for laundry is one of the most common signs of a beginner. Avoid it to sound more natural.
Compound it!
Combine it with 'ủi' to say 'giặt ủi' for a more complete household chore description.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct verb for washing clothes.
Tôi cần phải ___ đồ ngay bây giờ.
'Giặt' is the only verb used for fabric/clothes.
Complete the sentence about a laundry shop.
Tiệm ___ này làm việc rất nhanh.
'Giặt ủi' (wash and iron) is the standard term for a laundry shop.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at home and the washing machine is working. What do you say?
This correctly describes the machine performing the action.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: Sao bạn không đi chơi? B: Mình bận ___ rồi.
In the context of chores preventing someone from going out, 'giặt đồ' is the most logical choice.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
The 'Wash' Verbs in Vietnamese
Giặt
- • Quần áo
- • Mền
- • Thảm
Rửa
- • Chén bát
- • Tay
- • Xe
Tắm
- • Người
- • Chó
- • Mèo
Practice Bank
4 exercisesTôi cần phải ___ đồ ngay bây giờ.
'Giặt' is the only verb used for fabric/clothes.
Tiệm ___ này làm việc rất nhanh.
'Giặt ủi' (wash and iron) is the standard term for a laundry shop.
You are at home and the washing machine is working. What do you say?
This correctly describes the machine performing the action.
A: Sao bạn không đi chơi? B: Mình bận ___ rồi.
In the context of chores preventing someone from going out, 'giặt đồ' is the most logical choice.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, if the shoes are made of fabric (like sneakers), you can use 'giặt giày'. If they are leather, you would use 'đánh giày' (polish) or 'lau giày' (wipe).
It's neutral, but if you're talking about a formal task, 'giặt giũ' or 'giặt quần áo' sounds slightly more professional.
'Giặt đồ' is more colloquial and common in speech. 'Giặt quần áo' is more literal and common in writing.
It is 'máy giặt'. Literally 'machine [for] washing'.
No, that's not common. People always use 'giặt đồ'.
It means 'things' or 'stuff'. In this phrase, it's a placeholder for clothes.
You can say: 'Giặt đồ giúp tôi với' (Please wash the clothes for me).
Not really a slang word, but 'xử lý đống đồ' (handling the pile of things) is a common casual way to say it.
Yes, 'giặt thảm' is the correct term for washing a carpet.
It means 'washing powder' or detergent.
Related Phrases
Giặt giũ
similarGeneral laundry chores
Giặt ủi
specialized formLaundry and ironing
Phơi đồ
builds onHanging clothes to dry
Xả đồ
specialized formRinsing clothes
