DoVG

hàng₁  classifier / measure word (rows / units)

Core Meaning

hàng is used when speakers want to talk about things arranged in a line or row, or about items that are treated as the same kind of unit placed together.

Speakers use hàng₁ to group things side by side, often in a visible, orderly way.


Situations / Uses

S1: Referring to things in rows or lines

Speakers use hàng when objects are lined up next to each other.

[1] – hàng cây trước nhà a row of trees in front of the house

[2] – hàng ghế trong lớp rows of chairs in the classroom

[3] – Có ba hàng nhà ở con đường này. There are three rows of houses on this street.


S2: Grouping similar items as units

hàng is used when speakers see items as a group of the same type, not individually.

[4] – hàng quán ven đường a row of roadside shops

[5] – hàng xe đậu trước cổng a line of vehicles parked in front of the gate


S3: Counting repeated structures or sets

Speakers use hàng with numbers to count sets that repeat in a row-like way.

[6] – Hai hàng chữ trên bảng. Two lines of writing on the board.

[7] – Ba hàng đèn sáng cả đêm. Three rows of lights stayed on all night.


Contrast / Comparison (Cf)

hàng₁ vs dãy

hàng₁: emphasizes side-by-side arrangement – dãy: often longer, continuous, or more fixed

[8a] – hàng ghế rows of chairs

[8b] – dãy nhà a row / block of houses


hàng₁ vs cái / con

hàng₁: groups things together – cái / con: count individual items

[9a] – một hàng xe a line of vehicles

[9b] – một cái xe one vehicle


Notes

hàng₁ usually comes before the noun.

• Often used when visual arrangement matters.

• Common in descriptions of places, streets, classrooms, shops.

• Can sound slightly more descriptive or formal than everyday classifiers.


Common Patterns / Combinations

number + hàng + noun

– ba hàng cây three rows of trees

– hai hàng ghế two rows of chairs

hàng + noun + adjective

hàng quán nhỏ a row of small shops

cả hàng + noun

– cả hàng xe the whole line of vehicles


hàng₁ helps speakers see many items as one organized line or set, not separate pieces.