thuê in 30 Seconds
- Thuê means 'to rent' objects or 'to hire' people for a fee.
- It is a versatile verb used in daily life, travel, and business.
- The opposite of 'thuê' (to rent) is 'cho thuê' (to rent out).
- In Southern Vietnam, 'mướn' is often used as a synonym for 'thuê'.
The Vietnamese word thuê is a fundamental verb that every learner must master early on. At its core, it translates to "to rent" or "to hire" in English. It describes the act of paying money to use something—like a house, a car, or a tool—for a specific period without owning it. However, its utility extends beyond physical objects; in Vietnamese, you also use thuê when hiring a person to perform a service or a job, such as hiring a lawyer, a driver, or a domestic helper. This dual utility makes it more versatile than the English word 'rent', which usually applies to objects, while 'hire' applies to people. In the linguistic landscape of Vietnam, thuê is the standard term used primarily in Northern dialects, whereas its counterpart mướn is more frequently heard in the South, though both are understood nationwide.
- Core Concept
- The temporary acquisition of usage rights or labor in exchange for financial compensation.
- Regional Usage
- Common in the North (Hanoi area) for both objects and people. In the South, 'mướn' is often preferred for labor, but 'thuê' remains formal and widely accepted.
Tôi muốn thuê một căn hộ nhỏ ở trung tâm thành phố.
Understanding the context of thuê is vital for daily survival in Vietnam. If you are a tourist, you will use it to rent a motorbike (thuê xe máy). If you are an expat, you will use it to rent an apartment (thuê nhà). If you are a business owner, you will use it to hire employees (thuê nhân viên). The word operates on a simple logic: money flows from the subject to the provider in exchange for time-bound access. It is important to distinguish thuê from its inverse, cho thuê, which means "to let" or "to rent out." Confusing these two can lead to significant misunderstandings in business or real estate transactions.
Culturally, the act of 'thuê' reflects the fast-paced, service-oriented nature of modern Vietnamese society. From 'thuê xe ôm' (hiring a motorbike taxi) to 'thuê người giúp việc' (hiring a maid), the word covers a vast spectrum of economic interactions. It is a neutral word, neither inherently formal nor informal, making it safe for use in almost any setting, from a street corner to a corporate boardroom. As you advance, you will find it in complex terms like 'thuê ngoài' (outsourcing), showing how this A1-level word scales up to professional C2 contexts.
Using thuê in a sentence is grammatically straightforward because it follows the standard Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) pattern common in Vietnamese. However, because it can apply to both objects and people, the sentence structure might shift slightly depending on the intent. For objects, the pattern is simply [Subject] + thuê + [Object]. For example, "Tôi thuê xe" (I rent a car). When hiring a person to do something, the pattern often expands to [Subject] + thuê + [Person] + [Action], such as "Tôi thuê thợ sửa khóa" (I hire a locksmith).
- Object Rental
- Subject + thuê + (Quantity) + Noun. Example: 'Anh ấy thuê hai chiếc xe đạp.'
- Service/Labor Hire
- Subject + thuê + Person + (để) + Verb. Example: 'Công ty thuê bảo vệ để trông xe.'
Bạn có muốn thuê áo dài để chụp ảnh không?
One nuance to keep in mind is the duration. Vietnamese often adds time indicators after the object to clarify the rental period. For instance, "thuê theo giờ" (rent by the hour), "thuê theo ngày" (rent by the day), or "thuê dài hạn" (long-term rental). This is particularly common in the travel industry and real estate. Unlike English, where we might say "I'm renting," Vietnamese almost always requires an object or a contextually implied object. You wouldn't just say "Tôi đang thuê" without it sounding incomplete; you would say "Tôi đang đi thuê nhà" (I am [in the process of] renting a house).
When discussing business or formal arrangements, thuê is often paired with mướn to form the compound word thuê mướn. While thuê is sufficient, thuê mướn emphasizes the general activity of hiring labor or renting resources in an economic sense. In everyday conversation, stick to the single syllable thuê for clarity and natural flow. Whether you are asking for the price of a hotel room or looking for a freelancer on a website, this verb will be your primary tool for expressing the exchange of money for temporary usage or labor.
In Vietnam, you will encounter the word thuê everywhere, from the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City to quiet rural villages. The most common place to see it is on signs. Look for 'CHO THUÊ' (For Rent) posted on gates, windows, and storefronts. This is the universal signal for available real estate or commercial space. If you are in a tourist hub like Hoi An or Da Lat, you will hear shop owners asking, "Em có muốn thuê xe không?" (Do you want to rent a vehicle?). It is the heartbeat of the informal economy and the formal service sector alike.
- Real Estate
- 'Tìm phòng thuê' (Looking for a room to rent) is a top search query on Vietnamese social media and listing sites like Chợ Tốt.
- Daily Services
- Hiring help for moving house, cleaning, or even 'thuê người yêu' (hiring a 'fake' partner for holidays to please parents) are modern contexts.
Hợp đồng thuê nhà của tôi sẽ hết hạn vào tháng sau.
In the corporate world, thuê is used in the context of recruitment and resource management. HR managers talk about thuê nhân sự (hiring personnel) or thuê văn phòng (renting an office). In the digital age, you'll hear about thuê server (renting servers) or thuê dịch vụ (hiring a service). The word has successfully transitioned from the physical marketplace to the digital economy. Even in legal settings, the terms of a hợp đồng thuê (rental contract) are frequently debated, making it a word that spans from the lowest to the highest levels of society.
Listen for the tone as well. In the North, the 'hỏi' tone (the hook) in thuê is relatively flat and then dips, whereas in the South, it might sound slightly different, often merging toward the 'ngã' tone in some dialects, though the spelling remains the same. Regardless of the accent, the context of paying for temporary use is so strong that you will rarely misunderstand its meaning when you hear it in the wild. It is a word of utility, commerce, and practical daily living.
One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is confusing thuê with mượn. In English, we might loosely say "Can I borrow your car for a fee?" but in Vietnamese, mượn strictly implies borrowing for free from a friend or acquaintance. If money is involved, you must use thuê. Using mượn when you intend to pay can sound like you are asking for a favor rather than a business transaction, which might lead to social awkwardness or confusion about payment expectations.
- Thuê vs. Mượn
- 'Thuê' = Money exchanged. 'Mượn' = Free/Borrowed from friends. Don't say 'mượn khách sạn' (borrow a hotel); say 'thuê khách sạn'.
- Thuê vs. Cho thuê
- 'Thuê' is the act of the tenant/buyer. 'Cho thuê' is the act of the landlord/seller. 'Tôi cho thuê nhà' means I am the landlord.
Sai: Tôi mượn taxi để đi sân bay. (Wrong: I borrow a taxi to go to the airport.)
Another common error is the word order when hiring people. Learners often try to translate "I hired him to work" as "Tôi thuê anh ấy làm việc," which is correct, but they might forget the 'làm việc' and just say "Tôi thuê anh ấy," which can sometimes sound a bit blunt or objectifying depending on the tone. Adding the specific task makes the sentence more natural. Additionally, be careful with the word tuyển. While tuyển means 'to recruit' (usually for long-term employment), thuê is often used for short-term or gig-based labor. If you are a CEO, you tuyển nhân viên; if you need someone to fix your roof today, you thuê thợ.
Lastly, learners often struggle with the passive voice. In English, we say "The house is being rented." In Vietnamese, you would typically say "Căn nhà đang được cho thuê" (The house is being let out) or "Căn nhà đang có người thuê" (The house has someone renting it). Avoid trying to use thuê in a passive construction without the auxiliary verb được or bị, although được is much more common here as it implies a positive or neutral state.
While thuê is the most versatile word for renting and hiring, Vietnamese offers several alternatives that carry different nuances of formality, region, and duration. The most prominent alternative is mướn. As mentioned, mướn is the Southern standard. In many contexts, they are interchangeable, but mướn is frequently associated with manual labor or short-term rentals in the South. In the North, mướn is used less often and can sometimes sound a bit dated or specifically refer to hiring people for menial tasks.
- Mướn
- Regional synonym (South). Often used for labor: 'mướn người làm'.
- Tuyển / Tuyển dụng
- To recruit or employ. Used for long-term jobs and professional hiring: 'tuyển nhân viên mới'.
- Thuê ngoài (Outsource)
- A modern business term for hiring third-party services.
Thay vì thuê nhân viên toàn thời gian, họ chọn thuê ngoài dự án này.
Another word to consider is mượn (to borrow). As discussed in common mistakes, this is only an alternative if the transaction is free. For instance, "Cho tôi mượn cái bút" (Let me borrow the pen). If you were to say "Cho tôi thuê cái bút," it would imply you are offering to pay for the use of the pen, which would be quite strange! For land and large-scale property, you might encounter thuê khoán, which refers to a specific type of contract or 'contracting out' certain agricultural or industrial work. This is much more technical and used primarily in professional or rural economic contexts.
In summary, while thuê is your 'go-to' word, being aware of mướn for regional flavor and tuyển for professional recruitment will make your Vietnamese sound more sophisticated and context-aware. When in doubt, thuê is never wrong for any paid rental or hiring situation, making it one of the most reliable verbs in your vocabulary arsenal.
How Formal Is It?
Fun Fact
While many Vietnamese administrative words come from Chinese (Sino-Vietnamese), 'thuê' is a native word, showing that the concept of renting and hiring was fundamental to early Vietnamese society before heavy Chinese linguistic influence.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing 'th' as a hard 't' (like 'toe'). It must be aspirated.
- Missing the 'hỏi' tone, making it sound like 'thuê' (flat tone) which means 'tax' (though spelled 'thuế' with a different tone).
- Confusing 'thuê' (rent) with 'thuế' (tax) which has the 'sắc' (rising) tone.
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to recognize on signs and in text.
Simple spelling, but remember the 'hỏi' tone.
The tone can be tricky for beginners to distinguish from 'thuế'.
Clear sound, but watch for regional variations with 'mướn'.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Examples by Level
Tôi thuê xe đạp.
I rent a bicycle.
Simple SVO: Subject (Tôi) + Verb (thuê) + Object (xe đạp).
Bạn thuê nhà ở đâu?
Where do you rent a house?
Question form using 'ở đâu' at the end.
Tôi muốn thuê một phòng.
I want to rent a room.
Using 'muốn' (want) before the verb 'thuê'.
Giá thuê là bao nhiêu?
How much is the rent price?
'Giá thuê' acts as a compound noun (rent price).
Tôi thuê xe máy một ngày.
I rent a motorbike for one day.
Time duration 'một ngày' follows the object.
Họ thuê thợ sửa điện.
They hire an electrician.
'Thuê' used for hiring a professional.
Tôi không thuê áo dài.
I don't rent an ao dai.
Negative form using 'không' before 'thuê'.
Anh ấy thuê taxi đi chợ.
He hires a taxi to go to the market.
Purpose clause: [Object] + [Action].
Chúng tôi thuê xe ô tô để đi du lịch.
We rent a car to go traveling.
Using 'để' to express purpose.
Bạn nên thuê nhà gần công ty.
You should rent a house near the company.
'Nên' (should) adds a layer of advice.
Tôi đang tìm người để thuê dọn dẹp.
I am looking for someone to hire for cleaning.
Complex object: 'người để thuê dọn dẹp'.
Cửa hàng này cho thuê váy cưới.
This shop rents out wedding dresses.
'Cho thuê' means to rent out/let.
Tôi thuê căn hộ này theo tháng.
I rent this apartment by the month.
'Theo tháng' indicates the rental period.
Họ thuê một hướng dẫn viên du lịch.
They hire a tour guide.
Hiring a person for a specific role.
Bạn có cần thuê thêm đồ dùng không?
Do you need to rent more equipment?
'Thuê thêm' means to rent more/additional.
Tiền thuê nhà của tôi rất rẻ.
My rent money is very cheap.
'Tiền thuê nhà' is a common phrase for rent.
Công ty quyết định thuê mặt bằng mới.
The company decided to rent a new premises.
'Mặt bằng' is a professional term for commercial space.
Chúng tôi cần thuê nhân viên thời vụ cho tết.
We need to hire seasonal staff for Tet.
'Nhân viên thời vụ' refers to temporary/seasonal workers.
Hợp đồng thuê nhà có thời hạn hai năm.
The rental contract has a term of two years.
'Hợp đồng thuê' is the formal term for a lease.
Bạn phải trả tiền đặt cọc khi thuê xe.
You must pay a deposit when renting a car.
'Tiền đặt cọc' is essential B1 vocabulary.
Tôi muốn thuê một luật sư để tư vấn.
I want to hire a lawyer for advice.
'Tư vấn' means to consult/advise.
Việc thuê nhà ở Hà Nội khá cạnh tranh.
Renting a house in Hanoi is quite competitive.
Gerund-like use of 'việc thuê nhà' as a subject.
Họ thuê dịch vụ bảo vệ cho sự kiện.
They hired a security service for the event.
'Thuê dịch vụ' is hiring a service rather than a person.
Giá thuê đã bao gồm phí quản lý chưa?
Does the rent price include the management fee yet?
Using 'bao gồm' (include) in a rental context.
Doanh nghiệp thường thuê ngoài bộ phận kế toán.
Businesses often outsource the accounting department.
'Thuê ngoài' is the standard term for outsourcing.
Bên thuê có trách nhiệm bảo quản tài sản.
The lessee is responsible for maintaining the property.
'Bên thuê' is the formal legal term for the lessee/tenant.
Chúng ta nên thuê chuyên gia để thẩm định giá.
We should hire an expert to appraise the price.
'Thẩm định' is a formal verb for appraising/evaluating.
Việc thuê đất nông nghiệp cần có giấy phép.
Renting agricultural land requires a permit.
'Giấy phép' means permit/license.
Họ đang đàm phán lại giá thuê văn phòng.
They are renegotiating the office rent price.
'Đàm phán lại' means to renegotiate.
Chính sách cho thuê của công ty rất linh hoạt.
The company's rental policy is very flexible.
'Chính sách cho thuê' (Rental policy).
Tôi đã thuê một đơn vị vận chuyển uy tín.
I hired a reputable shipping unit.
'Đơn vị' is a formal way to refer to a company/entity.
Khoản chi phí thuê máy móc rất lớn.
The cost of hiring machinery is very large.
'Khoản chi phí' refers to an expense item.
Hợp đồng thuê tài chính giúp doanh nghiệp tối ưu vốn.
Financial leasing contracts help businesses optimize capital.
'Thuê tài chính' is a technical term for financial leasing.
Việc lạm dụng lao động thuê mướn gây ra nhiều hệ lụy.
The abuse of hired labor causes many consequences.
'Hệ lụy' is a high-level word for negative consequences.
Bên cho thuê có quyền đơn phương chấm dứt hợp đồng.
The lessor has the right to unilaterally terminate the contract.
'Đơn phương chấm dứt' is a formal legal phrase.
Thị trường thuê nhà đang chịu ảnh hưởng của lạm phát.
The rental market is being affected by inflation.
'Chịu ảnh hưởng' (To be influenced/affected).
Chúng tôi thuê tư vấn chiến lược để mở rộng thị trường.
We hired strategic consultants to expand the market.
'Tư vấn chiến lược' (Strategic consulting).
Quy định về thuê tài sản công đã được thắt chặt.
Regulations on leasing public assets have been tightened.
'Tài sản công' (Public assets).
Sự bùng nổ của kinh tế thuê mướn làm thay đổi thói quen tiêu dùng.
The boom of the gig economy changes consumption habits.
'Kinh tế thuê mướn' here refers to the sharing/gig economy.
Chủ đầu tư cam kết mức lợi nhuận từ việc cho thuê lại.
The investor commits to a profit level from subleasing.
'Cho thuê lại' means to sublease.
Phân tích tính khả thi của việc thuê thay vì mua tài sản cố định.
Analyze the feasibility of leasing instead of buying fixed assets.
'Tài sản cố định' (Fixed assets) and 'Tính khả thi' (Feasibility).
Các điều khoản về bất khả kháng trong hợp đồng thuê cần được làm rõ.
Force majeure clauses in the rental contract need to be clarified.
'Bất khả kháng' is the legal term for Force Majeure.
Sự chuyển dịch từ sở hữu sang thuê mướn là một xu thế tất yếu.
The shift from ownership to renting is an inevitable trend.
'Xu thế tất yếu' (Inevitable trend).
Cơ chế thuê khoán trong nông nghiệp đã thúc đẩy năng suất điểm.
The contracting mechanism in agriculture has boosted productivity.
'Cơ chế thuê khoán' is a specific historical/economic term.
Việc thuê chuyên gia nước ngoài đòi hỏi thủ tục pháp lý phức tạp.
Hiring foreign experts requires complex legal procedures.
'Thủ tục pháp lý' (Legal procedures).
Khái niệm 'thuê tâm hồn' trong văn học phản ánh sự tha hóa.
The concept of 'hiring a soul' in literature reflects alienation.
Metaphorical/Literary use of 'thuê'.
Thẩm quyền phê duyệt dự án cho thuê đất thuộc về Ủy ban Nhân dân.
The authority to approve land lease projects belongs to the People's Committee.
'Thẩm quyền' (Authority/Jurisdiction).
Rủi ro tín dụng trong các giao dịch thuê tài chính trung hạn.
Credit risk in medium-term financial leasing transactions.
'Rủi ro tín dụng' (Credit risk).
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— Rent and sublease. A common real estate business model.
Anh ấy kinh doanh thuê và cho thuê lại.
Idioms & Expressions
— To be a hired thug or hitman; literally 'stab for hire, slash for hire'.
Hắn ta sống bằng nghề đâm thuê chém mướn.
informal/derogatory— To work for someone else (often implying a lack of autonomy or low status).
Cả đời chỉ đi làm thuê cho người ta.
informal— To hire professional mourners (metaphorically: to get someone else to express grief for you).
Đừng có thuê người khóc mướn ở đây.
informal— You get what you pay for when renting (cheap rent means low quality).
Giá rẻ thì phòng xấu, tiền nào của nấy mà.
informal— Literally 'hiring elephants to trample the ancestors' graves'; bringing in outsiders who cause destruction to one's own family/country.
Hành động đó chẳng khác nào thuê voi dày mả tổ.
literary/historical— To take a detour or find a difficult way around (less common).
Phải mướn đường mà đi vì đường chính tắc.
dialectal— To trust the wrong person with something valuable (play on 'Chọn mặt gửi vàng').
Cẩn thận kẻo thuê mặt gửi vàng.
informal— To do hard manual labor for hire to survive.
Ông ấy đã từng cày thuê cuốc mướn vất vả.
literary— Hiring a pro isn't as good as asking a friend (implies friends care more).
Nhiều người nghĩ thuê thợ không bằng mượn bạn.
informal— To do unpaid work for others (the opposite of 'thuê').
Anh ta toàn ăn cơm nhà vác tù và hàng tổng.
idiomaticWord Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'THUE' as 'THE Use' - you pay for THE Use of something for a while.
Visual Association
Imagine a 'CHO THUE' sign on a beautiful villa in Da Lat. You see the word 'THUE' and think of the money you pay to stay there.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to find three 'Cho Thuê' signs in your neighborhood and note down what they are renting out (house, room, or space).
Word Origin
The word 'thuê' is of Austroasiatic origin, deeply rooted in the Vietnamese language. It has evolved over centuries as the primary term for commercial exchange of temporary usage.
Original meaning: To pay for labor or the use of an asset.
Mon-Khmer / Vietic.Cultural Context
Avoid using 'thuê' in a way that sounds like you are 'buying' a person; always ensure the context of a service or job is clear to remain respectful.
In English, we distinguish 'rent' (objects) and 'hire' (people). In Vietnamese, 'thuê' covers both, which can simplify things once you get used to it.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Travel
- thuê xe máy
- thuê khách sạn
- thuê thuyền
- thuê hướng dẫn viên
Housing
- thuê nhà
- thuê phòng
- thuê chung cư
- tiền thuê hàng tháng
Business
- thuê mặt bằng
- thuê văn phòng
- thuê nhân viên
- thuê ngoài
Services
- thuê thợ sửa
- thuê bảo vệ
- thuê giúp việc
- thuê thợ chụp ảnh
Legal
- hợp đồng thuê
- bên thuê
- bên cho thuê
- thời hạn thuê
Conversation Starters
"Bạn đang thuê nhà hay ở nhà riêng?"
"Giá thuê xe máy ở đây là bao nhiêu một ngày?"
"Tôi có thể thuê áo dài ở đâu đẹp?"
"Bạn đã bao giờ thuê người giúp việc chưa?"
"Hợp đồng thuê của bạn còn bao lâu nữa?"
Summary
The word 'thuê' is the universal Vietnamese verb for any paid temporary usage or labor. Whether you are renting a motorbike or hiring a lawyer, 'thuê' is your primary verb. Example: 'Tôi thuê xe máy' (I rent a motorbike).
- Thuê means 'to rent' objects or 'to hire' people for a fee.
- It is a versatile verb used in daily life, travel, and business.
- The opposite of 'thuê' (to rent) is 'cho thuê' (to rent out).
- In Southern Vietnam, 'mướn' is often used as a synonym for 'thuê'.
