Language/Vietnamese/Vocabulary/Counting-21-and-Beyond

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Vietnamese → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Counting 21 and Beyond

Welcome to our lesson on counting in Vietnamese! If you've made it this far, you're doing great! Understanding how to count beyond twenty is an essential skill in any language, especially in Vietnamese, where numbers play a crucial role in daily conversations, shopping, and even cultural traditions.

In Vietnamese, counting goes beyond mere numbers; it’s a gateway to understanding the structure of the language itself. Numbers are used in various contexts, such as telling time, discussing ages, and even in business transactions. Mastering numbers, particularly those beyond twenty, will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Vietnamese.

In this lesson, we'll explore:

• The structure of numbers from 21 to 99 in Vietnamese

• The pronunciation of these numbers to ensure you're understood

• Practical examples to illustrate their use in everyday situations

• Exercises to reinforce your learning and test your understanding

So, let's dive right in!

Counting Structure from 21 to 99

In Vietnamese, numbers are formed using a straightforward system. Once you reach twenty, the counting pattern becomes a combination of tens and units. Here’s a quick overview:

• 21 to 29: The pattern is "hai mươi" (20) + unit (1-9).

• 30 to 99: The pattern is "ba mươi" (30), "bốn mươi" (40), and so on, followed by the units as needed.

Let’s break this down with some examples.

Numbers 21 to 29

Vietnamese	Pronunciation	English
21	hai mươi mốt	twenty-one
22	hai mươi hai	twenty-two
23	hai mươi ba	twenty-three
24	hai mươi bốn	twenty-four
25	hai mươi năm	twenty-five
26	hai mươi sáu	twenty-six
27	hai mươi bảy	twenty-seven
28	hai mươi tám	twenty-eight
29	hai mươi chín	twenty-nine

Numbers 30 to 99

After twenty-nine, the counting continues with the tens from thirty to ninety, as shown below.

Vietnamese	Pronunciation	English
30	ba mươi	thirty
31	ba mươi mốt	thirty-one
32	ba mươi hai	thirty-two
40	bốn mươi	forty
41	bốn mươi mốt	forty-one
50	năm mươi	fifty
51	năm mươi mốt	fifty-one
60	sáu mươi	sixty
70	bảy mươi	seventy
80	tám mươi	eighty
90	chín mươi	ninety
99	chín mươi chín	ninety-nine

As you can see, in Vietnamese, after twenty, the numbers follow a clear pattern, and this makes it easier to memorize once you understand the structure.

Tips for Pronunciation

When practicing pronunciation, pay attention to the tones in Vietnamese. The meaning of a word can change entirely with a different tone. For example, "một" (1) has a different tone than "mốt" (used in 21). Here are some tips to help you:

• Practice with native speakers: Listening to how numbers are pronounced in context can help reinforce their sounds.

• Use flashcards: Create flashcards with the number on one side and the pronunciation on the other.

• Repeat aloud: Practicing aloud helps with muscle memory in your mouth and will improve your confidence.

Practical Application

Now that you have a grasp of counting from 21 to 99, let’s look at some practical scenarios in which you can use these numbers in everyday life.

• Shopping: Asking for prices or quantities.

• Making plans: Discussing dates and times.

• Dining: Ordering food and drinks.

Exercises

To reinforce your learning, let’s put your skills to the test with some exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

Translate the following numbers into Vietnamese.

1. 32: _______________

2. 45: _______________

3. 56: _______________

4. 78: _______________

5. 90: _______________

Solutions:

1. ba mươi hai

2. bốn mươi lăm

3. năm mươi sáu

4. bảy mươi tám

5. chín mươi

Exercise 2: Matching Exercise

Match the Vietnamese number with its English equivalent.

| Vietnamese | English |

|-------------------|----------------|

| a) 21 | 1) twenty-four |

| b) 24 | 2) thirty-one |

| c) 31 | 3) twenty-one |

| d) 45 | 4) forty-five |

| e) 56 | 5) fifty-six |

Solutions:

a - 3

b - 1

c - 2

d - 4

e - 5

Exercise 3: Listening Exercise

Listen to a native speaker read the following numbers and write them down in Vietnamese.

1. 27

2. 34

3. 89

4. 53

5. 71

Solutions:

1. hai mươi bảy

2. ba mươi bốn

3. tám mươi chín

4. năm mươi ba

5. bảy mươi một

Exercise 4: Create Sentences

Use the following numbers to create sentences in Vietnamese.

1. 25

2. 40

3. 60

4. 72

5. 99

Example Solutions:

1. Tôi có hai mươi năm tuổi. (I am twenty-five years old.)

2. Nhà của tôi có bốn mươi mét vuông. (My house is forty square meters.)

3. Tôi đã đọc sáu mươi trang sách. (I read sixty pages of the book.)

4. Bữa tiệc có bảy mươi hai khách mời. (The party has seventy-two guests.)

5. Cô ấy đã ăn chín mươi chín chiếc bánh. (She ate ninety-nine cakes.)

Exercise 5: Word Problems

Solve these word problems using the correct Vietnamese numbers.

1. If you have 3 apples and you buy 25 more, how many do you have?

2. If you are 45 years old and your friend is 56, how much older are you?

3. You want to buy 78 bananas. How many do you need to leave if you already have 30?

Solutions:

1. Bạn có ba mươi tám quả táo. (You have thirty-eight apples.)

2. Bạn nhỏ hơn bạn 11 tuổi. (You are 11 years younger than your friend.)

3. Bạn cần mua bốn mươi tám quả chuối. (You need to buy forty-eight bananas.)

Exercise 6: Translate the Sentences

Translate the following sentences to Vietnamese.

1. I have thirty apples.

2. She is twenty-five years old.

3. We need forty chairs.

4. They bought seventy books.

5. He has ninety-one friends.

Solutions:

1. Tôi có ba mươi quả táo.

2. Cô ấy hai mươi lăm tuổi.

3. Chúng tôi cần bốn mươi cái ghế.

4. Họ đã mua bảy mươi cuốn sách.

5. Anh ấy có chín mươi một người bạn.

Exercise 7: Quick Quiz

Answer these questions based on what you learned.

1. What is twenty-eight in Vietnamese?

2. How do you say fifty-seven?

3. What number comes after seventy-nine?

Solutions:

1. hai mươi tám

2. năm mươi bảy

3. tám mươi

Exercise 8: Role Play

In pairs, create a dialogue using numbers. One person is a shopkeeper, and the other is a customer. Use numbers to discuss prices and quantities.

Example Dialogue:

• Customer: "Quý vị có mười cái bánh này không?" (Do you have ten of these cakes?)

• Shopkeeper: "Có, mỗi cái bánh là hai mươi nghìn." (Yes, each cake is twenty thousand.)

Exercise 9: Write a Short Paragraph

Write a short paragraph about your favorite food using at least five numbers you learned.

Example Solution:

Món ăn yêu thích của tôi là phở. Tôi thường ăn phở vào bữa sáng. Một tô phở có giá khoảng ba mươi nghìn đồng. Tôi thích thêm hai quả trứng và năm miếng thịt bò. Tôi ăn phở vớii bảy người bạn.

Exercise 10: Number Story

Create a short story that includes counting numbers from 21 to 99.

Example Story:

Hôm nay, tôi đã đi chợ. Tôi mua hai mươi quả táo. Sau đó, tôi thấy bốn mươi bông hoa. Tôi quyết định mua ba mươi lăm nghìn đồng cho một bó hoa đẹp. Cuối cùng, tôi đã gặp bảy mươi hai người bạn ở đó.

Congratulations on reaching the end of this lesson! Practice these numbers in your daily conversations, and don’t hesitate to revisit this material as needed. Remember, the more you practice, the more confident you will become in using Vietnamese numbers!

Table of Contents - Vietnamese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Hello and Goodbye
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Vietnamese Culture Basics

• Vietnamese Values
• Social Etiquette
• Cuisine and Dining

  ---

Numbers and Counting

• Counting 1-10
• Counting 11-20
• Counting 21 and Beyond

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Nouns and Gender
• Pronouns and Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Holidays and Celebrations

• Tet
• Mid-Autumn Festival

  ---

Verbs and Verb Tenses

• Present Tense Verbs
• Past Tense Verbs
• Future Tense Verbs
• Modal Verbs

  ---

Food and Drink

• Vietnamese Food
• Drinks and Beverages
• Food Ordering

  ---

Arts and Entertainment

• Traditional Music
• Movie and Television

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Adverbs

  ---

Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Giving Directions

  ---

Traditional Clothing

• Ao Dai
• Other Traditional Clothing

Other Lessons

• Parts of the Body
• Months of the year
• Drinks and Beverages
• Family Members
• Count from 1 to 10
• Geography
• Clothes
• Animal
• How to say Good Bye?

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