cái gì
[kaːj˧˦ zi˨˩]
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
(pronoun) something
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
ai, cái gì, con gìthe who, the what thing, the what animal
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sources & notes
Imported from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); community review pending. source ↗
Sense 2
Sense 3
Meaning · English
(interjection) what the heck!
Sense 4
Meaning · English
(particle) Used to express that a word should not have been said.
Examples
Anh cái gì mà anh.
Anh anh cái gì?
Wiktionary example (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Common questions
What does “cái gì” mean?
(pronoun) something
Is “cái gì” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.