bể

[ʔɓe˧˩]

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

(noun) sea, ocean

Sources & notes

Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗

Sense 2

Meaning · English

(noun) some small water bodies, reserves or containers; a lake, a pool, a water reserve, a water tank, etc.

Examples

bể bơia swimming pool
bể nướca water tank

Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Sense 3

Meaning · English

(verb) to break, to be broken

Sense 4

Meaning · English

(adjective) broken into pieces

Where it’s used: Used Miền Nam · Southern Vietnam • Wiktionary labels this sense “Southern”

Common questions

What does “bể” mean?

(noun) sea, ocean

Is “bể” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.