cái is used when speakers want to count or point to a single, concrete thing that is not a person or an animal.
Speakers use cái as the default classifier for most everyday objects when no more specific classifier is needed.
cái is the most common classifier for physical, non-living objects.
[1] – một cái bàn a table
[2] – hai cái ghế two chairs
[3] – ba cái điện thoại three phones
Speakers use cái to treat something as one complete thing, not its material or parts.
[4] – Tôi mua một cái áo. I bought a shirt.
[5] – Cái ly này bị bể rồi. This cup is broken.
When speakers are not sure which classifier to use, cái is often chosen in spoken Vietnamese.
[6] – Đưa cho tôi cái đó. Give me that thing.
[7] – Anh đang tìm cái gì vậy? What thing are you looking for?
cái vs con
– cái: objects, neutral things – con: animals, children, or things seen as active
[8a] – cái bàn a table
[8b] – con chó a dog
cái vs chiếc
– cái: general, everyday – chiếc: often used for vehicles or single items in a more careful tone
[9a] – cái xe máy a motorbike
[9b] – chiếc xe máy a (specific) motorbike
• cái comes before the noun.
• Very common in spoken language.
• Using cái instead of a more specific classifier is usually acceptable, especially for beginners.
• Often appears with này / đó / kia.
• number + cái + noun
– một cái túi one bag
– hai cái hộp two boxes
• cái + noun + này / đó / kia
– cái áo này this shirt
– cái ghế kia that chair over there
cái₁ is the learner’s best friend: a safe, general classifier for most things.