Meaning
Providing water to plants
Cultural Background
Watering flowers is often a multi-generational activity. Grandparents often teach grandchildren how to 'tưới' as a way to instill patience and a love for nature. Due to lack of space, 'tưới hoa' often happens in 'vườn treo' (hanging gardens) or on rooftops. It's a key part of the 'urban farmer' identity. During Tết, watering the 'Cây Mai' or 'Cây Đào' is a ritual. People use tea water or specialized fertilizers to ensure the flowers bloom on the first day of the year. Flowers are often compared to women. 'Tưới hoa' can be a metaphor for a man taking care of his wife or lover.
Use 'Tưới cây' for everything
If you aren't sure if it's a flower or a bush, just say 'tưới cây'. It's always safe.
Watch out for 'Nước hoa'
Remember that 'Nước hoa' is perfume. If you say 'Tôi tưới nước hoa', people will think you are very rich and weirdly spraying Chanel No. 5 on your daisies.
Meaning
Providing water to plants
Use 'Tưới cây' for everything
If you aren't sure if it's a flower or a bush, just say 'tưới cây'. It's always safe.
Watch out for 'Nước hoa'
Remember that 'Nước hoa' is perfume. If you say 'Tôi tưới nước hoa', people will think you are very rich and weirdly spraying Chanel No. 5 on your daisies.
Morning is best
In Vietnam, saying you water flowers at 6 AM makes you sound like a very disciplined and traditional person.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct verb to complete the sentence.
Mỗi sáng, tôi thường _______ hoa ở ban công.
The context of 'hoa' (flowers) and 'ban công' (balcony) requires the verb 'tưới' (water).
Which sentence is a natural way to ask a favor?
How do you ask a neighbor to water your flowers?
'Tưới' is the standard verb for watering plants.
Match the Vietnamese phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are all related terms in gardening.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Trời nắng quá nhỉ? B: Ừ, tớ phải đi _______ ngay không hoa chết hết.
If it's sunny (trời nắng), you need to water the flowers so they don't die.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Things you can 'Tưới'
Plants
- • Hoa (Flowers)
- • Cây (Trees)
- • Rau (Vegetables)
- • Cỏ (Grass)
Practice Bank
4 exercisesMỗi sáng, tôi thường _______ hoa ở ban công.
The context of 'hoa' (flowers) and 'ban công' (balcony) requires the verb 'tưới' (water).
How do you ask a neighbor to water your flowers?
'Tưới' is the standard verb for watering plants.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are all related terms in gardening.
A: Trời nắng quá nhỉ? B: Ừ, tớ phải đi _______ ngay không hoa chết hết.
If it's sunny (trời nắng), you need to water the flowers so they don't die.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, 'tưới' is only for plants or surfaces. For a dog, use 'cho uống nước' (give water to drink) or 'tắm' (bathe).
'Tưới hoa' is specific to flowers, while 'tưới cây' is general for all plants/trees.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your younger brother.
It is 'bình tưới' or 'bình tưới hoa'.
No! 'Nước hoa' means perfume. Say 'tưới nước cho hoa' if you want to include the word water.
No, Vietnamese doesn't use articles like 'the' in this context. Just 'tưới hoa' is perfect.
It's still 'tưới hoa'. You can specify 'tưới hoa bằng vòi' (watering flowers with a hose).
Not really, but 'tưới tắm' is a more rhythmic, slightly more casual way to say it.
Because it's a basic daily chore that requires understanding a specific verb-noun collocation.
Yes, you can 'tưới sốt' (pour sauce) over a dish.
Related Phrases
Tưới cây
similarWatering plants
Bón phân
builds onFertilizing
Tỉa cành
builds onPruning
Chăm sóc
synonymTo take care of
